How medical conditions affect the sense of balance

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Conditions such as Parkinson's, eye disease and diabetes can rob you of your balance, putting you at risk of falls.
Balance is often impaired as we get older, which increases the risk of falls. Once someone has had a fall, they become likely to have another and are at risk of disability and loss of independence. There are many medical conditions that increase the risk of loss of balance, say researchers at Harvard Medical School. Being aware of these may help reduce the risk.

Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and stroke are all neurological conditions that can affect balance. In diabetes, nerve damage to the feet makes walking difficult which impairs balance. Postural hypotension is a fall in blood pressure which is linked to standing up suddenly and may occur with certain medications. Cataract surgery often dramatically improves balance as vision is restored. General tips for maintaining balance are keeping active, which maintains the neural connections needed, improved posture and regular exercises to maintain your strength.

Source
Harvard Health Letter 11th August 2006

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