Often times it's something like an inner ear infection. Your inner ear, which is called the vestibular system, gets infected or swollen. That causes vertigo (we'll explain that a little further down the page). Things like stroke and low blood pressure can also cause dizziness or balance problems.
Vestibular balance disorders can affect your balance and make you feel disoriented. Common causes include inner ear problems, medicines, infections, and traumatic brain injury. These disorders can occur at any age. But they are most common as you get older.
But you should seek medical attention if imbalance isn't a fleeting sensation, if it's debilitating and disrupting your life or if it's putting your safety at risk. The signs you might have a balance disorder include: Prolonged or extreme dizziness. A spinning sensation when you're not actually moving (vertigo)
People with bilateral vestibulopathy have balance issues but no dizziness if the damage affects both ears at the same time. Those with peripheral neuropathy that does not affect the autonomic (controlling the muscles of the internal organs and glands) nerves have balance issues without dizziness.
Certain conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, or problems with your vision, thyroid, nerves, or blood vessels can cause dizziness and other balance problems.
Loss of balance or unsteadiness
Losing your balance while walking, or feeling imbalanced, can result from: Vestibular problems. Abnormalities in your inner ear can cause a sensation of a floating or heavy head and unsteadiness in the dark. Nerve damage to your legs (peripheral neuropathy).
Neurological Conditions
Illnesses like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and cervical spondylosis slowly damage the way your nervous system talks to your brain, which can affect your balance. Physical therapy can help you manage the symptoms.
Oxygen doesn't travel as quickly to your brain, muscles, and organs. This may cause sensations of balance loss every once in a while. Neurological conditions. If you have a health condition like Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis, you have a greater risk of losing your balance.
However, chronic balance problems may indicate a serious medical condition. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can improve outcomes and, in some cases, may even save lives. See a doctor if a person experiences: dizziness so severe that they cannot safely walk or drive.
The ear is a sensory organ that picks up sound waves, allowing us to hear. It is also essential to our sense of balance: the organ of balance (the vestibular system) is found inside the inner ear.
Treatment for dizziness and balance disorders varies depending on the diagnosis and severity. In mild cases, symptoms may go away on their own as the vestibular system heals or the body learns to adjust. Treatments may include: medication.
Diagnosing the underlying cause of imbalance is difficult because there are many potential causes. Your primary care physician may refer you to a neurologist, otolaryngologist, or neuro-otologist for further diagnosis. Tests that may be used to determine the cause of imbalance include: Audiometric (hearing) tests.
Leg weakness can be caused by a variety of medical conditions, some of which are serious. Possible causes include stroke, systemic diseases, inflammatory conditions, nerve damage, muscle disorders, and medication side effects.
In sum, increased fear and anxiety can lead to stiffening movement and altered postural control, gait, head movements and visual search strategies. All of this can impede balance.
Researchers have found that balance begins to decline in midlife, starting at about age 50. In one recent study, adults in their 30s and 40s could stand on one foot for a minute or more. At age 50, the time decreased to 45 seconds. At 70, study participants managed 28 seconds.
Answer: Taken in moderation, vitamin D may decrease the risk of falls. In addition, insufficient intake of vitamin B12 and protein can cause balance problems and difficulty walking, which could increase the risk of falling. Moderate doses of fish oil may help reduce falls among otherwise healthy older adults.
Falls, dizziness and balance problems are common MS symptoms. But there are a few things you can try to manage them. Read about physio, walking aids and treatments.
Loss of balance is a symptom of both Ménière's disease and lupus. However, dizziness and spinning sensation (vertigo) that may cause loss of balance are hallmark signs of Ménière's disease while loss of balance is an uncommon symptom of lupus.
Healthcare providers typically perform a Romberg test on all people who are having issues with balance, dizziness and falls to help determine if their balance issues are related to issues with proprioception. They also often include the test during physical neurological exams.
Untreated, vitamin B-12 deficiency can lead to neurological problems, such as persistent tingling in the hands and feet or problems with balance. It can lead to mental confusion and forgetfulness because vitamin B-12 is necessary for healthy brain function.
Posturography, also known as computerized dynamic posturography (CDP). This test measures how well you can keep your balance while standing. It can help find out whether a balance disorder is caused by a problem with your inner ear, eyes, or nerve signals from your feet and legs.
Imaging studies of the head including CT scan (Computed Tomography scan) or MRI scan (Magnetic resonance imaging scan) are performed to check for injuries and abnormalities in the brain and cerebellum part of the brain that controls balance and coordination.
Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness. If you have vertigo, you may feel like the world is spinning around you. You feel unbalanced or that you are swaying or moving when you are still. It might get worse when you change position quickly, such as turning over in bed or moving your head to look up.
Stress, worry, or anxiety may cause other kinds of dizziness. It might feel more like lightheadedness than spinning. One form of this is chronic subjective dizziness — a vague feeling of imbalance. It happens more often in people with anxiety and in places where your senses have to take in a lot of information.