dizziness problems

Include some walking or light activity in your day; try some exercises for better balance.

Seniors who keep active seem better able to handle dizziness problems.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—Medications, inner ear problems, and general decline of certain bodily functions can all trigger dizziness problems in older adults. Those dizziness problems can lead to catastrophic falls, but they also have a psychological effect: triggering worries of instability that lead to an overall decline in quality of life. A new study published in Gerontology, however, finds that a daily walk could be key in reducing dizziness problems and enhancing older adults' general sense of well-being.

THE DETAILS: According to background information in the study, dizziness afflicts half of women and 40 percent of men over the age of 75. Researchers recruited 4,360 older adults over the age of 75 and asked them to answer questionnaires about age, where they lived, health problems, quality of life, frequency of falls, and whether they were affected by dizziness. They were also asked if they were involved in any activities or exercise programs, with regular exercise defined as heavy garden work, long walks, bike tours, sports, gymnastics, or dancing, and light exercise defined as light garden work, short walks, and light household chores. Dizziness and low quality of life were directly linked, with 43 percent of people experiencing dizziness reporting that they felt depressed or low-spirited, compared with 13 percent of nondizzy adults. People reporting dizziness also had significantly more health problems and were more likely to report feeling anxious. But the 76 percent of those who experienced dizziness while also participating in exercise, even light exercise, were less likely to report that they felt depressed or low-spirited, and although they still had health problems, they were less likely to report feeling anxious, worried, or afraid than the older adults who didn't participate in exercise programs.