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Balance Issues In Seniors

With age, we can experience challenges with ensuring nutrition, hygiene, memory, and even balance. As per experts in senior living, balance issues are among the most common reasons that seniors see their doctors. Balance issues in seniors can be caused by many factors, including medications, environmental hazards, age-related changes, and health conditions. There are numerous coping mechanisms that can help elderly adults manage balance issues, including vision correction, safety precautions, exercise, etc.

If you or your senior loved one is experiencing balance problems, it can be much scary. Fear of falling can make some seniors even choose to have a more sedentary life. But, choosing a sedentary life can lead to reduced physical strength, endurance, balance, and flexibility, which can result in many health concerns. Our assisted living experts share some of the most common causes of balance issues in seniors.

Causes Of Balance Issues In Seniors

Understanding why balance problems occur is the first step to improving balance. It is common for elderly adults to experience some balance issues due to aging, though the reasons can be unique to the person. For instance, elderly adults can experience balance problems due to lightheadedness from diseases to the circulatory system, including a previous stroke. Breathing disorders like COPD can also lead to balancing issues. However, it isn’t always health conditions that can lead to balance issues in seniors. Some of the other common causes of balancing issues in seniors are:

Vision-Related Issues

Problems in vision can also affect balance. With so many elderly adults living with low vision, it can mean that those seniors are having issues with remaining balanced at home. Macular degeneration and cataracts can make seniors feel unstable and unsure of their surroundings.

Chronic Health Conditions

If you are living with a chronic health condition, you need to understand how that health condition affects your daily life. Chronic conditions can increase the risk of falling in seniors and can also lead to balancing issues. For instance, seniors living with diabetes can experience lightheadedness and balance issues when their blood sugar levels are very low. Other chronic health conditions like cardiovascular diseases and COPD are also linked to balancing issues.

Side Effects Of Medicines

Medications that are used to combat symptoms of diseases and help us feel better can also lead to balancing issues. As per senior living experts, the biggest cause of balancing issues in seniors is medications that are used to manage blood pressure. If you are taking these medications, you should not stop taking them but should review the balance issues you have with your doctor.