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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
www.vestibulardisorders.org
