Dizziness in Older Adults: How to Manage It & Prevent Falls

Feeling dizzy might not seem that serious to everyone, but to some, it can be life-threatening. Age plays a big role in the severity and prevalence of dizziness. It’s true that the older you get, the more likely you are to be affected by some form of dizziness. In fact, dizziness plays one of the biggest roles in contributing to disability in those 65 or older. But why is it so much more serious for adults of a certain age?

Dizziness’ Snowball Effect

The reason that dizziness becomes so much more serious for older adults is best explained as a snowball effect. A snowball effect occurs when something starts very small and insignificant but progressively builds up until it becomes much more serious, like a snowball turning into an avalanche. 

Now, imagine that dizziness is this snowball. The longer that older adults live with dizziness, the more likely it is to cause much more serious complications. The process usually goes something like this:

• Dizziness by itself is a strong predictor of falls in the elderly.
• Falls very often lead to bone fractures, most commonly in the wrist and hip.
• Bone fractures lead to hospitalization with long recovery times.
• These injuries lead to a loss of mobility and independence.
• Decreased mobility increases the likelihood that falls will occur again, usually with worse outcomes.

Those who experience a fall tend to develop a fear of falling again. This makes them change the way they walk and move about, which ironically makes them even MORE susceptible to falling than they were before their initial fall. The best method to prevent this vicious cycle is to avoid living with dizziness in the first place. But, to do that, you need to understand what might be causing it.

Aging & Dizziness

Dizziness definitely has a relationship with the aging process. The three main parts of the body that are responsible for balance are also those most commonly negatively affected by aging. This is a gradual process known as Presbystasis. These three parts of the body are the eyes, ears, and musculoskeletal system. 

Hearing and vision loss often continue at a steady rate as people age, while certain nerve structures also decline in function at a much faster pace in older adults. The rate at which someone is affected varies from person to person, but overall these gradual decreases affect the elderly in much greater proportions than younger populations. Check out the graph below to see the relationship between dizziness and doctor visits in older populations. 

Sure, aging, or more specifically Presbystasis, makes you more susceptible to experiencing dizziness. This aging process alone isn’t always the main factor in why so many people choose to just keep living with their symptoms, however. That’s the good news! 

How to Live Life Without Dizziness and Balance Problems

To start the process of living a life free of dizziness, it’s important to understand one thing: being dizzy and unstable are not an inevitable part of getting older. While aging often comes with a decreased sense of balance and a degeneration of the senses, there are so many ways you can fight these effects. But first, it’s important to note that the presence of dizziness can often be a sign of another underlying condition outside of simple aging. 

To check, you can use our interactive self-assessment tool to investigate and see if you or an older adult you care for may have a condition that could affect their sense of balance and cause dizziness. If you don’t find any clear causes, you can start looking at other potential culprits. It is common for many medications to cause dizziness as a side effect, so make a point to be aware of whether any medications you take could be causing the symptoms, and be sure to mention this to your doctor. 

Why Am I So Dizzy? Take RehabMart's Dizziness Self Quiz

Staying up to date on appointments with doctors sounds like a no-brainer, but this concept is often overlooked. Attending regular appointments is an incredibly effective way to be proactive with your health and stay ahead of any surprising complications before they become too serious. Doctors can do a great job of looking out for serious conditions, and they give great advice on leading a healthier lifestyle. That being said, their advice alone can only do so much good. After you’ve ruled out any potential underlying conditions, one of the most important things you can do to prevent dizziness and instability is something that is completely up to you to do: stay active and exercise regularly.

Think of a body as a garden: if the garden is well nourished and taken care of with constant maintenance, the plants will live long, bountiful lives. The same goes for your body. You can’t neglect it and expect it to not wither away. Progressive stretching and low-impact exercise such as walking are both proven to be effective at strengthening the musculoskeletal system. Find a routine that works for you and stick with it, your body will thank you!

The Big Picture

Dizziness can be a very worrisome symptom for older adults due to the snowball effect it can have on their quality of life. It is a common misconception that dizziness and being unbalanced go hand-in-hand with growing older, but this is far from the truth. Since balance has to do with how well the eyes, ears, and musculoskeletal system are functioning, taking care of these 3 structures should be a top priority as you age. Doctors typically do their part in making sure your eyes and ears are taken care of, but it’s your responsibility to take care of your musculoskeletal system. With this approach, you can take care of problems before they happen, and you will find that the transition into old age isn’t nearly as difficult as some say. For more topics on aging in place or dizziness, please visit us at Caregiver University!