CAPE GAZETYE, Tuesday, April 12 -April 14, 2005 - 29
Is it. normal for seniors to lose their balance?
Dear Fred: I'm not sure what's
going on, but, once in a while, I
find myself losing my balance.
Is this just an aging thing or
what? - Off-Balance in San Fran- •
cisco
Dear Off Balance: About one
in 10 people older than 65 experi-
ence difficulty with balance.
More than 40 percent of Ameri-
cans will go to a doctor complain-
ing of dizziness. Getting older is
only part of the problem. Inner-
ear disturbances are the primary
cause.
Losing balance when you're
older is serious stuff. The Centers
for Disease Control and Preven-
tion reports that each year more
than one-third of people older
than 65 years suffer a fall. Falls
are the leading cause of injury
deaths among older adults. And,
even if the fall doesn't kill you,
you could fracture a hip and then
HEALTHY GEEZER
Fred Cicetti
Fred Cieetti, a first-class
geezer over 60 who writes a
health column for senior cit-
izens. To ask a question,
send an email to fredci-
cetti@gmail.com.
Not all balance problems have
the same cause. Here are several
balance problems, you get vertigo
when you change the position of
your head. You may also experi-
ence BPPV when you roll over,
get out of bed, or when look on a
high shelf. BPPV is more likely in
people older than 60.
Labyrinthitis, an infection or in-
flammation of the inner ear - The
labyrinth is the organ in your in-
ner ear that enables you to main-
tain balance.
M6ni6re's disease - can give
you intermittent hearing loss, a
ringing or roaring in the ears, and
a feeling of fullness in the ear.
Other causes may involve an-
other part of the body, such as the
brain or the heart. Aging," infec-
tions, head injury, certain medi-
cines or problems with blood cir-
culation may also cause problems
with balance.
Blood-pressure medications
and some antibiotics can cause
balance problems. If you are tak-
ance problem and don't know it.
Balance disorders can be difficult
to diagnose because patients
sometimes can't describe their
symptoms well.
Balance disorders can be signs
of other health problems, so it's
important to have them checked
out.
If you can answer any of the
following positively, discuss the
symptom with your doctor.
Do I feel unsteady? Disorient-
ed? As if the room is spinning?
As if I'm moving when I'm still?
As if I'm'falling? As if I might
faint? Also, do you ever lose your
balance and fall? Or, do you ex-
perience blurred vision?
Persistent balance problems are
not something you should pass off
as a harmless part of the aging
process. They should always be
examined carefully.
Family Health of Georgetown
announces
ESk00dar A. Yazaji
Board certified in internal medicine
and geriatric medicine.
Accepting new patients in Georgetown.
a whole bunch of problems will. major ones: ing any drugs in these categories
can cascade over you: limitations Benign paroxysmal positional and feel off-balance, it's worth
on activities, isolation, loss of in- vertigo (BPPV) - With BPPV, one discussing with your doctor.
dependence and depression, of the most common causes of Some people may have a bal-
Youths to participate in Kick Butts Day April 16
First State Community Action
Agency and students from Sussex
County communities are joining
thousands across the country who
are taking part in Kick Butts Day,
set for 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday,
April 16, on The Circle in George-
town. Following the event will be
a celebration at the Sussex Boys
& Girls Club from 12:30 to 3 p.m.
Youths collected 9,641 cigarette
butts from around The Circle,
March 27, for the Kick Butts Day
event. The community cleanup is
a collaboration between students,
after-school youth groups, public
health advocates and volunteers.
Cigarette butts will be collected
approximately one block off each
exit of The Circle. Nationally,
other youthswill be participating
in a variety of Kick Butts Day
events, such as surveying tobacco
advertising in their communities,
urging local officials to support
anti-tobacco ordinances, raiding
the street with flyers and tossing
hats, jackets and other items that
carry tobacco brand names into
giant Dumpsters.
Tobacco use is the leading pre-
ventable cause of death in the
United States, killing more than
400,000 people every year. How-
ever, 53,000 die from secondhand
smoke. For more information
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it www.kickbuttsday.org.
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