Many of us take it for granted until we stumble, slip, or fall.

“People may not even realize they can have a problem with the heart and end up with a balance problem because if the heart’s not working properly, and pumping properly, your blood pressure may not be as high as it should be and because of low blood pressure you could have balance problems,” says Dr. Salvatore Lacagnina, Medical Director for Lee Physician Group.

In fact, there are many factors that can affect our balance- everything from stress, to weight, clothing, even our sleep habits.

Dr. Lacagnina says a series of questions with your doctor about your imbalance, even dizziness, can help you get to the root of the problem. “Does that occur when you roll over in bed at night because that may point to an inner ear problem? Do you get dizzy at night when you get up and go to the bathroom?”

He can sometimes tell if a patient is having balance problems, just by observing them in his office. “Watch them get up off the chair. If you can’t stand up without using your arms to push yourself up or rocking forward like a lot of patients do, you can see right away that they have a lot of lower extremity weakness,” he adds.

Any dizziness or near-falls should not be ignored. Early detection and early treatment can help. Tomorrow on Health Matters, we take a look at how physical therapists can actually help you achieve better balance.