Dizziness and Balance Disorders Treatment Specialist in Hinsdale, IL

Dizziness can be caused by a wide variety of injuries, disorders, or diseases. Dizziness happens when there is a disturbance in the inner ear. Dizziness can be caused by certain medications, vertigo, and motion sickness. Other possible causes of dizziness can be a brain injury, a drop in blood pressure, anemia, hypoglycemia, heart disease, anxiety, low blood oxygen levels, dehydration, or an ear infection.

Balance issues also can happen from a disturbance in the inner ear. Inside our ears, we have a tiny structure called the vestibule. The vestibule houses fluids and tiny hairlike structures that play a role in balance.

The vestibule is a part of the vestibular system, and this is also known as our equilibrium. Equilibrium is what influences a person’s sense of balance. When the fluid or tiny hairlike structures are disturbed, it throws off a person’s sense of balance. Disorders or injuries that may cause balance problems can include but are not limited to a head injury, an ear infection, medications, low blood pressure, motion sickness, vertigo, chemical imbalances in the brain, and much more.

There are many different types of vestibular disorders. A vestibular disorder can be caused by things like aging, head injuries, or an infection. The most common type of vestibular disorder is known as vestibular neuritis. Vestibular neuritis is a medical condition that is known to affect the vestibular nerve, which has a role of connecting the inner ear to the brain.

Vestibular neuritis is known to cause prolonged vertigo, which will impact a person’s sense of balance. The symptoms that are most commonly associated with a vestibular disorder can include, but are not limited to; nausea, lightheadedness, dizziness, trouble focusing, and much more.

Treating a vestibular disorder can come with many options. The first option can include treating an underlying cause, which could be a fungal infection in the blood or ear. Another option could include changing lifestyle factors. Lifestyle factors can include things such as your diet. Diets high in saturated fats and uncooked foods such as sushi can cause an increased risk for infections or cholesterol buildup in the arteries, which can lead to inadequate blood flow which can decrease blood pressure.

Rehabilitation and surgery are other options for vestibular disorders as well. Surgery may be needed for patients who have suffered from prolonged inflammation within the ear canal, causing permanent damage to the eardrum. Rehabilitation can treat a vestibular disorder by introducing exercises to promote adaptation and substitution. The final treatment option for a vestibular disorder is physical therapy. This treatment will entail exercise-based treatment including walking exercises, head, and eye exercises, and balance exercises.

If you are experiencing dizziness or balance issues it is recommended that you seek medical interventions quickly. There may be a severe complication that is causing these issues and it would be best to treat them as soon as possible to prevent any further damage that it could cause. Reaching out to a physical therapist regarding dizziness or balance problems can help in a variety of ways. Since physical therapists are doctors, they can order imaging, diagnose, and treat your symptoms quickly and promptly. If you have been suffering from dizziness or balance problems persistently or recently started experiencing these symptoms, the team at Progressive Physical Therapy is here for your needs and will be able to help. We are a team of licensed medical professionals who have experience in treating patients with dizziness and balance problems. For more information, call us today or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 15 Spinning Wheel Road Ste. 24 Hinsdale, IL 60521. We serve patients from Hinsdale IL, La Grange IL, Westmont IL, Lombard IL, Downers Grove IL, Elmhurst IL, and surrounding areas.