Anyone who has ever been tipsy or drunk has experienced their vestibular system under stress. That is, a sensation of light-headedness, spinning, unsteadiness and sometimes even vomiting. Imagine feeling like that every day everyday in response to moving around, looking up or standing up, and even the bright lights of shopping centres.

Balance is often referred to as the “sixth” sense and it is only when things go wrong that we understand how important it is in our daily life. The vestibular system processes information from the inner ear, the eyes, joint position sensors in feet and limbs and coordinates with the brain to enable us to balance in all types of situations.

Do you have any of the following?

• vertigo

• dizziness

• nausea

• loss of balance

• unsteady walking

• poor concentration

• eye fatigue

• headaches

• tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

These are all common symptoms of a vestibular disorder and many can be improved with treatment.

Ruchi Kalra will assess your vestibular function and sort out what the problem is likely to be and plan out your rehabilitation. Don’t put up with feeling dizzy and off balance any longer.