Do you have trouble with  balance? No, I’m not talking about your diet. Or your credit card. We tend to lose our sense of balance over time, but there are ways around this.

To begin, it’s important to know how we balance. Firstly, the inner ear has dense fluid moving around inside which help us orientate in space. Secondly, our vision plays a major part in how we balance. If you doubt this, try standing upright with your eyes closed.  Thirdly, the muscles in our feet, ankles and neck are important for stability.

If you have trouble with balance, it’s best to see your general practitioner. There are many causes of poor balance, from low blood pressure, ear infections and changes in medication. Your doctor should explain this to you and may look in your ears for signs of infection. They will also determine whether your balance problems are due to general dizziness or vertigo.

Vertigo is a sensation that the room is spinning, and can be very debilitating. The most common type of vertigo is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). Usually this is brought on by sudden movements of the head or neck and is generally short in duration. This type of vertigo can be resolved by the Epley maneuver performed with your audiologist or physiotherapist. The success rate is 80 – 90 percent.

Emerging studies show that if your hearing starts to decline, hearing aids could help you keep your balance. Just as when we close our eyes or turn off the light we start to sway, ‘opening’ your ears gives you accurate sound information that helps your postural stability.

Keeping our balance is increasingly important as we age. Falls and related injuries incur millions of dollars in direct medical costs each year, and can even increase the risk of early death.

If you’re experiencing frequent balance problems, seek expert advice without delay.