Tag Archive for ‘Balance’ at NC Healthcare Coverage Blog

Getting older often means a decline in our vision, hearing and coordination, but the decline of our balance is one thing that can be slowed. Now new research indicates that it is very important to work on slowing the deterioration of our balance.

When we no longer have our balance, we become accessible to falls. Falling can be hazardous at any age, but according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is the fifth-leading cause of death for people aged 65 and older.

To prevent falls, the CDC suggests exercising routinely to sustain muscle. They also recommend getting enough vitamin D and calcium to support bone strength.

An increasing amount of physicians and physical therapists suggest doing exercises specifically created to challenge the complicated system of reflexes that control our stability. It is even suggested that even young people should begin doing these exercises.

Many people who begin a program that incorporates these types of exercises are surprised to find out how their balance has deteriorated over time. Frequently balance is underestimated in how significant it is to getting around the everyday risks in daily life such as escalators and uneven sidewalks.

Samples of things to do to improve balance include balancing on the floor with one foot, standing on a pillow, walking on grass instead of concrete and looking around in different directions while walking instead of just looking straight ahead.

When a migraine hits you unexpectedly and you are desperate to rid yourself of the migraine here are some tips that will help you control the migraine and get back to your lives.

Treating a Migraine

Its best to take a break and relax to ease your mind. Take a pain reliever that is guaranteed not to make you drowsy. The pain reliever can take up to half an hour to begin working on reliever your pain. Although the pain may not be completely gone you will have had some time at this point to adjust to the discomfort of the pain for the time being.

If a migraine should occur while driving it is best to pull over to a rest stop and try to rest for a few minutes. A migraine can cause you to lose your side vision temporarily, see white spots, or even color blind you for the moment. If there is another person in the vehicle with you that is able to drive it is best to have them do so.

Always take the safety of yourself and others in to account in these situations. If these migraines persist it is best to see a doctor.

Defining Migraines

A migraine is caused by a chemical imbalance in your body. If there is a high amount of a certain chemical flowing through your body your blood veins will shrink, and will not cause you any pain. If your body is lacking a certain chemical or has a low amount of chemical in the body then your blood veins will swell, causing pressure to build up that can be very painful. This is when you know you have a migraine.

There are many things that can cause a migraine. Light, sound, smells, and foods are just a few things that can trigger a migraine. The only clue your body can give you that you are about have a migraine is through abnormal weakness, being depressed, or sometimes having a sudden burst of abnormal energy.

You should take a migraine seriously because it could lead to serious illness and physical problems such as side vision loss or color blindness.

If you get reoccurring migraines you should seek medical attention as soon as possible so that the problem can be resolved.

Common Causes of Migraines and Headaches

stress
fatigue
dental problems
missed meals
hormonal changes
changes in barometric pressure or altitude
alcohol
food

chocolate, cheese, onions, citrus, eggplant, bay leaf, chili, cinnamon, fried or fatty foods, and pickled or processed foods

certain food additives (MSG and coloring or flavor enhancers)
caffeine
eye strain
muscle tension

Keeping a Migraine Diary

Often when you continue to get migraines a doctor will suggest that when you begin to get one you should start documenting what you did before, during, and at the end of your migraine. This is to see if there are patterns that are causing migraines and what might be helping you rid yourself of the pain. Here are some of the things you should be noting in your migraine diary.

First document the date and time of your migraine attack down to the minute
What is the severity of your attack: mild, moderate, sever, etc.
Where the pain is located: left, right, or both sides of the head
What type of pain is it: throbbing, Non-stop, on and off, dull, etc.
What are some of the symptoms: nausea, vomiting, sensitivities to light, sound or smell, etc.
Did you have any warning signs/auras and what were they?
Your environment: everything about it including weather, allergies from environment, strong smells, loud noises, lighting, etc.
What you ate or drank from when you woke up to the actual attack, and if you ate or drank anything during the attack and if it helped or made it worse.
Was there any stress or stress related thing from the day or days before that may have lead up to the attack?
Also you may include if there was any depression and where it may have came from.
Also if you have been taking any medications document what kind or brand and the dosage. Write why you were taking the medication and the affect it had on you.

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