Education

Vestibular Disorders, did you know?

Over 90 million Americans, age 17 and older, have experienced a dizziness or balance problem.

A majority of individuals over 70 years of age report problems of dizziness and imbalance, and balance-related falls account for more than one-half of the accidental deaths in the elderly…Furthermore, in a sample of persons age 65-75, one-third reported that dizziness and imbalance degraded the quality of their lives.

Dizziness is a common symptom affecting about 30% of people over the age of 65.

In Rochester, Minnesota from 1951 to 1980, out of every 100,000 people in the population 218.1 had Meniere’s disease and 15.3 would be diagnosed with it each year.

The number of people who have Meniere’s disease in one ear and who will ultimately develop the problem in both ears is not known. Estimates range from 17.7 percent to 75 percent. One study reported a 34 percent rate of bilateral disease over time.

Most experts regard BPPV as the most commonly diagnosed vestibular disorder. It accounts for at least 20 percent of diagnoses made by doctors specializing in dizziness and vestibular disorders. It is the most frequent cause of vertigo in the elderly. The number of people affected by this disorder each year has been estimated between 10 per 100,000 and 64 per 100,000 people, and some experts feel even more may be affected.

Unfortunately some of the medications, such as meclizine, that are commonly used in the treatment of vertigo can actually result in increased dizziness, drowsiness, insomnia and blurred vision. The side effects can increase when taken with other drugs including antihistamines, alcohol, sedatives, pain relievers, anxiety medicines, and muscle relaxants.

Fortunately most of the symptoms associated with vestibular disorder will dramatically improve, if not resolve completely, with physical therapy using specific techniques. For more information, contact our office or visit  verstibular.org