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Are You Dizzy? Do You Have Vertigo? Are You Out Of Balance?By Dr. Ann Newstead“A s many as 35% of adults aged 40 years or older in the United States— approximately 69 million Americans— have experienced some form of vestibulardysfunction.”Vestibular.orgYour eye movements and balanceare controlled by both a peripheral and central vestibular system. If either one or both systems are affected, then you may have difficulty eye head coordination and balance – resulting in dizziness, vertigo, visual disturbances, hearing loss or other medical problems.First, dizziness is defined as you feeling as if you are lightheaded, rocking, or floating, whereas in comparison vertigo is spinning or whirling sensation of the world around you.Second, both dizziness and vertigo can lead to imbalance or disequilibrium, lead to falls, and reduce the activities that you enjoy most because of difficulty staying upstraight and walking.Third, lightheadedness from cardiac(hypertension or hypotension), medication side effects and/or neurological events (e.g. stroke, head injury or concussions - from a fall) can also mimic dizziness and vertigo.Fourth, your hearing may be affected. Tinnitus (ringing in your ears), hearing loss, distorted hearing, or sensitivity to sounds may influence your ability to communicate with family and friends.Lastly, you may have visual disturbances – double vision, sensitivity to light, and/or poor depth perception making safe walking difficult.Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuritis, endolymphatic hydrops or Meniere’s disease, Vestibular Migraine, Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD), Concussions, or psychogenic disorders are some of the main reasons that people seek medical help.Finding a diagnosis of why you havedizziness or vertigo can be complex. It’s important to learn and discover more about the potential causes and solutions to improving your dizziness or vertigo and imbalance.If you would like to learn more about how to lessen the effects of dizziness or vertigo and improve your balance to enjoy your life again. For a comprehensive examination or a Discovery Consultation Visit contact Dr. Ann H. Newstead, PT, DPT, PhD.Ann H. Newstead, PT,DPT, PhD14418 Old Bandera RoadHelotes, TX 78023 Ahnewphysicaltherapy.comGirl Scouts Celebrate 111 Year AnniversaryGBy Sarah Carlsonirl Scouts have good reason to celebrate their birthday—March 12, 1912, the day Juliette GordonLow started the organization in her hometown of Savannah, Georgia.At a time when women in the United States couldn’t yet vote and were expected to stick to strict social norms, encouraging girls to embrace their unique strengths and create their own opportunities was game- changing.Now, Girl Scouts is turning 111. It’s the first and largest girl-led organization in the world. And girls today are more empowered than ever.“I love the arts and crafts, and we have great cookies. I stay in Girl Scouts because we help a lot of people,” said Carole B., of Helotes, a Girl Scout Daisy in Troop 5062.Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas is celebrating Girl Scouts’ birthday during its monthly Second Saturday event on March 11 at the Sally Cheever Girl Scout Leadership Center. It’s a time for looking at how far the movement has come and for planning the exciting future that awaits.The history of this country for the past 111 years is intertwined with the history of Girl Scouts. From the Great Depression, when Girl Scouts participated in relief efforts by collecting clothing and food for those in need, to World War II, when Girl Scout troops operated bicycle courier services, ran Farm Aide projects, and sponsored Defense Institutes that taught women survival skills and techniques for comforting children during air raids.Girl Scouts continued to push for inclusiveness and equality, especially throughout the middle of the 20th century, and focused on helping people overcome prejudices and advocate for issues such asGirl Scouts of Southwest Texas members—girls and volunteers—pose with CEO MajGen Angie Salinas, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.), at center, at the Sally Cheever Girl Scout Leadership Center in San Antonio, Texas.the environment.By the 1980s, Girl Scouts was expandingand modernizing. The types of badges and programs girls pursued evolved to include technology, a focus that remains today with STEM programming—along with a push to stay connected to nature and the great outdoors. The new millennium saw a focus on the healthy development of girls, and Girl Scouts continues to embrace girls of all backgrounds and abilities and encourage them to be their authentic selves.That movement—where every girl could unlock her full potential, find lifelong friends, and make the world a better place—has remained constant. That, and Girl Scout Cookies, which date back to 1917 and started being sold commercially by troops in the 1930s.Being a Girl Scout makes a difference. The Girl Scout Research Institute found in its 2021 report on alumni that participating inOne Brownie whispers into the ear of another Brownie, 1963, Courtesy Girl Scouts of the USAGirl Scouts is a powerful factor for developing courage, confidence, and character, which in turn builds a foundation for success in education and careers, enables a lifetime of leadership, and provides high levels of life satisfaction. Alums say being Girl Scouts set them on a path for achievement, connected them to something bigger than themselves, and helped them develop their passionsGirl Scouts work alongside Glen Evans,oftencalled“TheDeanofTexas Paleontology”, at Camp La Jita in the 1950’s.and interests.Learn more about Girl Scouts ofSouthwest Texas and how you can be a part of the fun at www.girlscouts-swtx.org.8www.heloteshighlights.comMarch 2023