by Kathy Foster
Charlie Prater, with Fyzical Dizziness and Fall Prevention Center in Dothan, Alabama was the guest speaker at the club’s March meeting and recommended the club members take the short test shown below to determine their indidividual risk of falling.
Prater said Dizziness is defined as:
- Feelings of unsteadiness
- Wooziness (queasy and disoriented)
- Lightheadedness
- Feelings of passing out
- Sensations of moving, spinning swaying, tilting, or whirling
Prater said these senations can occur when an individual is standing still, lying down, or changing positions and can last for seconds, minutes or days, but tended to show that the impacted person may need Vestibular Rehabilitation.
The Vestibular system refers to the inner ear – the brain’s ‘Balance Center’.
Prater said that people with vestiblular – inner ear – disorders often experience problems with balance or movement-related dizziness and often affect a person’s ability to change positions or move about.
According to Prater, for patients over 70 years of age, balance disorders and dizziness are the primary reasons for visiting a physician, and dizziness is a signficant risk factor for falls.
He suggested anyone having these problems talk with their doctor and see about being referred to the FYZICAL Dizziness & Fall prevention Center in Dothan.