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Hi MCers!
Recently some of us have mentioned that we have noticed increasing problems with our sense of balance. I was just about to start a poll to see if balance problems were more common with MC/gluten sensitivity when I saw a summary of a recent study.
Johns Hopkins researchers tested more than 5000 people and found that 1/3 of Americans over 40 have an inner ear dysfunction that can throw them off balance (which greatly increases the risk of falling). The risk of dysfunction increases with age - those in their 70s were 4 times more likely to be affected than those in their 50s. Fully 85% of people over 80 have such a balance problem! Diabetes (which can damage the inner ear) increases the risk by 70%.
Hmmm. It appears to me that balance is a huge problem for the general population, let alone us!
Hope you are having a great evening!
Polly
Problems with Balance
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Problems with Balance
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Interesting report, Polly,
I know that I haven't felt as steady on my feet as I did originally, once I improved so much with the diet. I think this is probably due to the osteoporosis. That's another reason I'd rather swim than walk, but of course, swimming provides too much loft to help much with the bones, although I have heard information more recently that there is benefit to any exercise that causes the muscles to pull on bone. That's apparently what stimulates the bones to grow -- not an easy thing to do, however, but then, I don't play around when I swim. Ha!
Before diet and improvement, I used to have the hall wall "hit me" when navigating it during the night sometimes without turning on the hall light.
I think I was unsteady then for a different reason -- more like something going on in my head back then. On those occasions, I wouldn't even realize that I was leaning toward the wall, until I felt the impact. Even then, however, I didn't fall to the floor, just had to push off the wall to right myself.
Fortunately, I haven't had that happen since then, but I'm also more conscious and careful when I walk now, because of the osteoporosis, and just because walking doesn't now feel as natural to me.
I wouldn't be surprised, however, if there wasn't at least some residual brain damage in the areas responsible for balance from those years of reaction to things I shouldn't have been eating, but I'm thankful that any damage that remains doesn't seem very noticable. It's difficult to tell what causes what sometimes. I just know I'm feeling older at this point in time. If I had been my usual physically active self these last few years, rather than being a recluse most of the time, I might have kept myself in better shape, but I do get exercise here with all the patient care, so parts of me are strong, at least.
Yours, Luce
I know that I haven't felt as steady on my feet as I did originally, once I improved so much with the diet. I think this is probably due to the osteoporosis. That's another reason I'd rather swim than walk, but of course, swimming provides too much loft to help much with the bones, although I have heard information more recently that there is benefit to any exercise that causes the muscles to pull on bone. That's apparently what stimulates the bones to grow -- not an easy thing to do, however, but then, I don't play around when I swim. Ha!
Before diet and improvement, I used to have the hall wall "hit me" when navigating it during the night sometimes without turning on the hall light.
I think I was unsteady then for a different reason -- more like something going on in my head back then. On those occasions, I wouldn't even realize that I was leaning toward the wall, until I felt the impact. Even then, however, I didn't fall to the floor, just had to push off the wall to right myself.
Fortunately, I haven't had that happen since then, but I'm also more conscious and careful when I walk now, because of the osteoporosis, and just because walking doesn't now feel as natural to me.
I wouldn't be surprised, however, if there wasn't at least some residual brain damage in the areas responsible for balance from those years of reaction to things I shouldn't have been eating, but I'm thankful that any damage that remains doesn't seem very noticable. It's difficult to tell what causes what sometimes. I just know I'm feeling older at this point in time. If I had been my usual physically active self these last few years, rather than being a recluse most of the time, I might have kept myself in better shape, but I do get exercise here with all the patient care, so parts of me are strong, at least.
Yours, Luce
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kscolorado
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