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Balance Awareness Week

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IMAGINE LIVING LIFE WITHOUT BALANCE.

Close your eyes and stand on one foot. It’s hard right? Now imagine having that same disoriented feeling on two feet, and with your eyes open. Balance is something most of us take for granted. It’s automatically hardwired into our bodies at birth, evolving and adapting as we grow and age. While basic balance is innate, some of us are able to perfect or even master our balance through exercise and practice. We don’t often think about our balance—until of course, we lose it.

While most people may not be familiar with the word “vestibular”—relating to your inner ear, brain, and sense of balance—many of us have likely experienced the awkward or sometimes scary feeling when we momentarily lose our balance. Maybe it’s taking a wrong step or getting motion sickness aboard a jostling boat. Or that nauseating head-spinning sensation after one too many alcoholic beverages. Eventually our balance comes back and life moves on.

This is not the case for the over 69 million Americans who suffer from the mostly invisible and frequently debilitating symptoms of chronic imbalance association with a vestibular disorder. Whether it comes on gradually over time or all of the sudden, bouts of dizziness, vertigo, and nausea can make many of life’s more routine tasks virtually intolerable. Just try getting a good night’s sleep with a high-pitched ringing in your ear. Or try to focus on something as everything around you appear to be spinning. For those living with a vestibular condition, everyday life becomes a progressively challenging obstacle course to navigate.

That is why VeDA pioneered Balance Awareness Week in 1997: to be an opportunity each year to come together and shine a light on these otherwise invisible balance disorders. If we’re all more aware, then we can better understand and be empathetic to those who need our support the most—our family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. While many of these balance disorders are incurable, faster and more accurate diagnosis, along with effective coping strategies can greatly improve quality of life. Join us this September for Balance Awareness Week, and together we can pave the way toward restoring a life rebalanced. 

By participating in Balance Awareness Week, you can increase awareness about vestibular disorders and funds to support patients in their journey back to balance.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

  • Put Balance Awareness Week on your calendar for September 16-22, 2018
  • Set a personal fundraising goal to support VeDA and vestibular research
  • Register your Personal Campaign Page
  • Share your Life Rebalanced story to help inform and inspire people
  • Take a selfie with Fiona, VeDA's flat flamingo and share on social media (using hashtag #BalanceAwarenessWeek2018)
  • Invite friends & family to LIKE VeDA on Facebook to learn more about vestibular disorders

where does balance awareness week take place?

Balance Awareness Week is a series of virtual events, both online and in communities around the world. Check vestibular.org for opportunities to participate, lend your voice, and take action!

why consider supporting balance awareness week?

For most of us, until you’re afflicted with a balance-related condition, the word vestibular is completely unknown. We want to change that. We believe if more people are aware of and understand the complexities of imbalance, we will not only reduce accurate diagnosis times, but also reinforce a culture of greater understanding, empathy, and support. And by helping to raise funds, you’ll further VeDA’s mission, advance research, and grow the community of support!

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