AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

1. To give information about the balance system and what can go wrong with it.
2. To offer advice on what to do if you develop a balance problem.
3. To offer links to other informative, relevant websites.

Listed below are links to the most common questions we are asked.

I WOKE THIS MORNING AND THE WORLD WAS SPINNING AROUND. IT PASSED OFF AFTER A FEW MINUTES BUT I FELT RATHER ILL. WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW IT HAS STOPPED?

MY MOTHER KEEPS FALLING OVER. SHE IS OVER 70 AND THINKS IT IS ‘JUST HER AGE’. CAN ANYTHING BE DONE TO HELP HER?

I KEEP FALLING BUT I ALSO SEEM TO BLACK OUT AS WELL. IS THIS A BALANCE PROBLEM?

I GET VERY TRAVEL SICK EVEN IF I TRAVEL A VERY SHORT DISTANCE. WHAT CAN I DO?

I WOKE THIS MORNING AND THE WORLD WAS SPINNING AROUND. IT PASSED OFF AFTER A FEW MINUTES BUT I FELT RATHER ILL.WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW IT HAS STOPPED?
The best thing to do is to go to your GP to see if he or she can find out what caused the spinning sensation. Our Doctor should also be able to give you some medicine to help stop the symptoms coming back. It might also be an idea to go to you local accident or emergency department if you feel another attack coming on, and your Doctor's surgery is closed. They can do certain tests there which will help them work out what is going on. However if you are feeling OK now, and can see your GP soon that should be sufficient.

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MY MOTHER KEEPS FALLING OVER. SHE IS OVER 70 AND THINKS IT IS ‘JUST HER AGE’. CAN ANYTHING BE DONE TO HELP HER?
Yes. Although falls are more common as people get older there are things that can be done to prevent them. Firstly it is important to establish the cause of your mother’s imbalance. There may be a very simple solution so it is worth having this investigated. Even if it is impossible to prevent a fall in all circumstances it is important that your mother receives advice to make sure she is safe and to minimise the risk of injury if she does fall. The first port of call is the GP. Falls are a big area of concern for the Department of Health and so there should be advice available.

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I KEEP FALLING BUT I ALSO SEEM TO BLACK OUT AS WELL. IS THIS A BALANCE PROBLEM?
You need to have this investigated by a specialist. It would help to take along someone who has witnessed one of your black outs.

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I GET VERY TRAVEL SICK EVEN IF I TRAVEL A VERY SHORT DISTANCE. WHAT CAN I DO?
If you are in a car, it will help to travel in the front and will help even more if you drive yourself as your brain copes better with the motion of the car if you are in control of it yourself. Try to avoid reading in the car or on a vehicle but look straight ahead as this gives your brain the most consistent visual input. If your travel sickness is very severe, sometimes medication will help and your GP should be able to recommend something. Otherwise he may suggest referral to a specialist to see if you have a specific problem with your balance mechanism that might respond to other treatment.

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© 2003 Balance Interest Group