14

Page 14 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, ApRil 17, 2026 Sa Sa a Sa y Senior enior Sen by Jim Miller What Causes Dizziness and How to Fix It Dear Savvy Senior, What can cause dizziness in older adults? I have dizzy spells from time to time but I’m not sure what causes it or what I should do about it. --Dizzy Donna Dear Donna, Whether it’s a moment of lightheadedness or the room-whirling sensation of vertigo, dizziness can be very unsettling. As many as 30 percent of people older than 60 experience dizziness at some point, about 50 percent after age 85. This unpleasant sensation only rarely signifi es a serious medical condition. But it can knock you off balance, leading to falls and injuries. That’s why anytime you feel dizzy, you should lower yourself to a safe, seated position. Here’s a brief rundown of what typically causes dizziness and what you can do to fi x it. What Causes Dizziness One of the most common causes of dizziness and vertigo in older adults is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). This occurs when tiny crystals in the inner ear, which play a role in balance, become dislodged. BPPV is more likely as we get older because wear and tear can cause the crystals to shift out of place. The resulting dizziness is generally triggered by changes in head position. People with BPPV often complain that the room spins when they roll over in bed, get into or out of bed, tip their head back, bend over, or make other quick head movements. These episodes usually last only a minute or two, but they may happen intermittently over a period of time. A drop in blood pressure may also cause dizziness, even fainting, especially when changing position from sitting or lying down to standing. This socalled postural hypotension is often the result of problems with blood pressure medication. If this is something that occurs on a regular basis, you need to be evaluated by your doctor. Certain sedatives, antidepressants, cough and cold medicines, and antibiotics can lead to dizziness, too. Dehydration may be another culprit in postural hypotension. Staying hydrated is extremely important for balance, blood pressure, and general well-being. Declines in vision and hearing (including ear infections and impacted earwax) may also aff ect your balance. When to Call a Doctor Occasional dizziness that lasts only for a few seconds is probably no cause for worry, but you should still let your doctor know. If it persists for several minutes or more or keeps happening, call your doctor right away. Sudden dizziness or loss of balance, along with facial drooping, trouble speaking, nausea, and vision or hearing disturbances can signal a stroke. If this happens call 911. Treatment for Dizziness If your doctor thinks you have BPPV, they can teach you the Epley maneuver, where you turn your head and body in ways that move ear crystals back into place. For medication related dizziness, your doctor can change your medication or dosage to reduce the side eff ects. For persistent problems, your doctor can check for infections, balance disorders, and more serious issues, such as tumors, congestive heart failure, an irregular heart rhythm, and conditions like Parkinson’s disease. If none are found, your doctor may recommend vestibular rehab, which may help with dizziness, vertigo, and balance problems. Anxiety and depression can also cause dizziness in some people. Treating this may ease your lightheadedness. Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070. nr ior Beacon Hill Roll Call Volume 51-Report No. 15 April 6-10, 2026 By Bob Katzen THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call reports on local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of April 6-10. CANNABIS REGULATION CHANGES (H 5350) House 155-0, Senate 33-6, approved and sent to Gov. Maura Healey a conference committee version of a bill that would restructure the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) -- dissolving it and downsizing its membership from fi ve members to three. It also gives all the power to the governor to make the three appointments, replacing the current law which gives that power to the governor, the attorney general and treasurer. The House and Senate had approved diff erent versions of the measure and a conference committee was appointed in December 2025 and took more than three months to hammer out this compromise version. Other provisions include making it clear that the CCC chair is responsible for personnel and administrative matters and the executive director reports directly to the chair; an increase from one ounce to two ounces in the amount of marijuana that an adult can purchase or possess for recreational use; increasing from three to six the number of licenses a business owner can hold; allowing medical marijuana operators to specialize in cultivation, manufacturing or retail sales by eliminating current costly requirements; directing the CCC to study and make recommendations for the regulation of intoxicating hemp, which has grown in prevalence over recent years and will effectively be banned under federal law this fall unless the U.S. Congress takes action; and giving the CCC the ability to allow retailers to advertise sales, discounts and customer loyalty programs inside the store and via opt-in email, both of which are currently not permitted. “Massachusetts has one of the most established cannabis industries in the country, and our laws need to evolve with that reality,” said Sen. Adam Gomez (D-Springfield), Senate Chair of the Committee on Cannabis Policy and co-chair of the conference committee. “This legislation strengthens oversight of the Cannabis Control Commission while making smart updates that support small businesses, improve accountability and ensure consumers can access cannabis safely and legally. By modernizing license caps, clarifying delivery and advertising rules and increasing transparency across the industry, we are building a more stable, equitable and responsible cannabis marketplace for the commonwealth.” “This bill takes clear steps towards a safer and more equitable cannabis industry across the commonwealth,” said Rep. Daniel Donahue (D-Worcester), House Chair of the Committee on Cannabis Policy and co-chair of the conference committee. “It also restructures and clarifies roles within the CCC to promote a more eff ective and accountable regulating body. This action demonstrates that the House and Legislature remain committed to ensuring that the rapidly changing Massachusetts cannabis industry continues to thrive.” “This bill ensures that as the cannabis industry grows in Massachusetts, it expands opportunity and refl ects our values,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “It opens doors for those long left out, modernizes access to safe and legal cannabis and brings our laws in line with a maturing industry. The result is a more stable, fair and equitable marketplace that keeps public health and safety front and center.” “We should work to ensure the cannabis industry operates responsibly and safely,” said Sen. John Keenan (D-Quincy) who voted against the measure. “I would have liked to see [the bill] put greater emphasis on creating suffi cient guardrails to mitigate the potential negative public health outcomes related to a sharp increase in cannabis accessibility. I also advocated for more education on public and mental health risks of cannabis consumption. Constituents have shared with me how cannabis has negatively impacted their lives. With them in mind, I voted against the bill.” None of the other five senators who voted against the bill responded to repeated attempts by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them to comment on the bill’s passage and to explain why they voted against it. Those fi ve senators are Sens. Kelly Dooner (R-Taunton); Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton); Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford), Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth) and Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester). (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes KIDS AND SOCIAL MEDIA AND CELL PHONES (H 5349) House 129-25, approved a bill that would prohibit the use of cell phones by students from the time they arrive in school until dismissal. School districts would be required to notify parents of this policy and ensure that parents still have the ability to contact their children during the school day and vice versa. Other provisions require the secure storage of personal electronic devices; allow the use of technology that renders personal electronic devices inoperable; require school districts to make accommodations and exceptions as necessary for documented medical needs, language access and translation needs for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or disabilities that require the use of personal electronic devices; and in cases of an emergency. The bill also restricts the use of social media by children. Provisions include requiring social media companies to implement an age verifi cation system based on the best technology available in order to reasonably and accurately identify a current or prospective user’s age; banning minors under the age of 14 from social media platforms, by requiring platforms to terminate users under that age and delete associated personal information effective October 1, 2026; requiring social media platforms to acquire verifiable parental consent for 14- and 15-year-old users of their platforms; prohibiting social media platforms from sharing information about a minor’s LGBTQ+ status or other characteristics protected under state law; and fi ning platforms which violate any of these provisions. The Senate has already approved a different version of the cell phone ban without the social media restrictions. A House-Senate conference comBEACON | SEE PAGE 16 Yes

15 Publizr Home