ADVANTAGE ISSUE #28 SUMMER 2023
Healthy Living Over 55
In this issue 1
Cover Story: Spin Doctors
4
Senior Skin & Sun: Reducing Risks of Melanoma
6 Helping a Loved One Through Grief
7
7 Books for Summer Reading
8 Ask the Doctor: Symptoms of Iron-Deficiency Anemia
10 Prime Time: The Underrated Benefits of Walking
12 Upcoming Classes, Events and Support Groups
COVER STORY
Spin Doctors Understanding why the room is spinning—and how to stop it. WRITTEN BY JOHN FERRARI
Y
ou remember this feeling, perhaps when playing on a swing set or merry-go-round as a kid: The world is spinning around you. You need to grab something to steady yourself. Except you’re not a kid, and you’re not on the playground. It’s vertigo, and you’ve had this feeling again and again recently. Should you be worried?
Not immediately, says Torrance Memorial Physician Network otolaryngologist Alexander Gertel, MD. It’s probably a common and relatively harmless condition with a tongue twister of a name: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). It is a good idea to track any episodes of vertigo, because they can be symptomatic of other potentially serious issues.
While vertigo and balance issues are common as we age, staying active is an important step to take to minimize their effects.