Also: Treating gum disease may lessen the burden of heart disease, diabetes, other conditions; How medications can affect your balance.

July 24, 2014 July 24, 2014 Everyone can improve their balance Good balance builds confidence and fosters independence. Working on balance can also bolster your abilities in tennis, golf, running, dancing, skiing, or any number of other sports or activities you love. And good balance can prevent falls, which is important for everyone, sports buff or not. Simply walking around the block requires good balance — as do rising from a chair, going up and down stairs, and even turning to look behind you. The body systems responsible for balance can be affected by gradual changes due to aging or side effects of medications. There is also a host of health problems that can lead to unsteadiness on your feet. Many stability problems, such as those caused by arthritis or mild vision problems, respond well to the exercises designed to improve balance. Milder balance impairments due to stroke, Parkinson’s disease, or multiple sclerosis often respond well, too. Get your copy of Better Balance Discover how you can prevent falls by improving your balance and mobility. Better Balance: Easy exercises to improve stability and prevent falls gives you step-by-step instructions for easy, effective workouts that will improve posture, increase muscle strength and speed, sharpen reflexes, expand flexibility, and firm your core. You'll also get tips for fall-proofing your home. Most likely, you already engage in some activities that help sharpen balance, especially if you’re an active person. For example: Walking, biking, and climbing stairs strengthen muscles in your lower body. A recumbent bike or stair stepper is a safe way to start if your balance needs a lot of work. Stretching loosens tight muscles, which affect posture and balance. Yoga poses strengthen and stretch tight muscles while challenging your static and dynamic balance skills. Tai chi moves, which involve gradual shifts of weight from one foot to another combined with rotating the trunk and extending the limbs, offer a series of challenges to improve your balance. What if you’re not at all active? Research shows that the right exercises can help sedentary folks improve strength and balance dramatically at any age. For workouts proven to help hone your balance, buy Better Balance: Easy exercises to improve stability and prevent falls, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. Share this story: News and Views from the Harvard Health Blog Treating gum disease may lessen the burden of heart disease, diabetes, other conditions A new study shows that treating gum disease in people with heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions can improve health and lower health care costs. How medications can affect your balance Medications make a difference — generally a positive one — in the lives of many people. Insulin keeps blood sugar under control, cholesterol-lowering drugs can reduce the chances of having a heart attack, and thyroid medication can restore a normal hormone level. These are but a few examples. At the same time, all drugs carry side effects, and can interact with other medications. For many medications, one or more side effects affect balance. And that can increase your chances of taking a fall. How? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, common problems include vision changes, dizziness or lightheadedness, drowsiness, and impaired alertness or judgment. Some medications may damage the inner ear, spurring temporary or permanent balance disorders. How do I know if this is a problem for me? Some of the commonly prescribed medications that can affect balance include: antidepressants anti-anxiety drugs antihistamines prescribed to relieve allergy symptoms blood pressure and other heart medications pain relievers, both prescription and nonprescription sleep aids (over-the-counter and prescription forms) Sometimes the problem isn’t a single drug but the combination of medications being taken together. Older adults are especially vulnerable, because drugs are absorbed and broken down differently as people age. If you are concerned about how your medications may be affecting your balance, call your doctor and ask to review the drugs you’re taking, the dose, and when you take them. It is never a good idea to just stop taking a medication without consulting your health care provider first. Doing so can create even more health risks. For more on improving your balance, buy Better Balance: Easy exercises to improve stability and prevent falls, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. Share this story: Featured in this issue Better Balance Featured content: • How balance works • Balance problems • SPECIAL BONUS SECTION: Preventing falls • Activities that enhance balance • Starting balance workouts safely •  ... and more! Click here to read more » Harvard Medical School offers special reports on over 50 health topics. Visit our website at http://www.health.harvard.edu to find reports of interest to you and your family. PHONE ORDERS - please call our toll-free number: 1-877-649-9457. You are currently subscribed to HEALTHbeat as sugengaria@gmail.com. EDIT YOUR SUBSCRIPTION PROFILE UNSUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE TO HEALTHbeat VIEW HEALTHbeat ARCHIVES Visit our website at: www.health.harvard.edu Email us at: healthbeat@health.harvard.edu FOLLOW US ON:  Facebook Twitter Copyright © 2014 by Harvard University. Harvard Health Publications, 10 Shattuck Street, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA * Please note, we do not provide responses to personal medical concerns, nor can we supply related medical information other than what is available in our print products or website. For specific, personalized medical advice we encourage you to contact your physician.