When should you be concerned about balance problems?

Signs and symptoms of balance problems include: Sense of motion or spinning (vertigo) Feeling of faintness or lightheadedness (presyncope) Loss of balance or unsteadiness.

Can balance issues be serious?

Balance problems are a common symptom of many different medical conditions. Many of these disorders do not require medical treatment. But if you have balance problems, you should see a doctor to rule out serious health problems such as a stroke or tumor.

When should I see a doctor for balance?

Generally, see your doctor if you experience any recurrent, sudden, severe, or prolonged and unexplained dizziness or vertigo. Get emergency medical care if you experience new, severe dizziness or vertigo along with any of the following: Sudden, severe headache.

What are balance problems a symptom of?

Balance disorders can be signs of other health problems, such as an ear infection, stroke, or multiple sclerosis. In some cases, you can help treat a balance disorder by seeking medical treatment for the illness that is causing the disorder.

What is a serious balance disorder?

What is a balance disorder? A balance disorder is a condition that makes you feel unsteady or dizzy. If you are standing, sitting, or lying down, you might feel as if you are moving, spinning, or floating. If you are walking, you might suddenly feel as if you are tipping over.

Balance and Dizziness Problems Addressed at Penn Medicine

Are balance problems neurological?

While the vast majority of balance problems are caused by problems with the inner ear, there may be neurological causes for balance disorders which require neurological care.

What neurological conditions cause balance problems?

Acoustic neuroma: benign tumor on the nerve connecting the ear to the brain. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): calcium deposits in the inner ear. Cochlear hydrops: affects balance of the inner ear. Meniere's disease: disorder of the inner ear.

Why do I feel off balance when I walk?

Key points about vestibular balance disorders

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.

What is the best treatment for balance problems?

What deficiency causes balance problems?

Nutritional deficiencies, such as deficiency of vitamin B12, may also be a cause of balance problems. Balance symptoms are frequently related to the sense of proprioception, or position in space, which is determined by the joints and muscles as well as the vestibular system.

How does a neurologist check your balance?

The Romberg test is a test that measures your sense of balance. It's typically used to diagnose problems with your balance, which is composed of your visual, vestibular (inner ear), and proprioceptive (positional sense) systems during a neurological exam.

Do balance disorders go away?

A balance disorder is a condition in which a person frequently feels dizzy or unbalanced while standing, sitting, or lying down and these symptoms continue over a period of time. Most often, balance problems that are not associated with a balance disorder go away on their own within 1-2 weeks.

What causes balance issues in older adults?

Long-term medical condition that affects the nervous system can have an impact on balance, too. Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Multiple Sclerosis are just a few. In addition, arthritis, heart problems, and certain medications seniors take for chronic illnesses can all contribute to unsteadiness.

Can anxiety cause balance problems?

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. Balance-compromising behaviors are not limited to changes in gait patterns and postural control; they may extend to visual behaviors.

Does walking help with balance issues?

Nearly any activity that keeps you on your feet and moving, such as walking, can help you maintain good balance.

Which organ maintain the balance of the body?

It is also essential to our sense of balance: the organ of balance (the vestibular system) is found inside the inner ear. It is made up of three semicircular canals and two otolith organs, known as the utricle and the saccule. The semicircular canals and the otolith organs are filled with fluid.

Is balance controlled by the brain?

The brain stem and cerebellum are important junctions in the control of balance as they co -ordinate information from the vestibular system, the cerebral cortex, muscles and joints in order to make adjustments to body movements and balance control.

What kind of doctor treats balance problems?

Diagnosis of balance disorders

An ENT specialist, also known as an otolaryngologist, is a doctor who specializes in diseases of the ears, nose, neck and throat.

Can a pinched nerve cause balance problems?

Pinched nerves can cause headaches and a loss of balance. As the bones degrade, dizzy spells become more and more frequent.

Can earwax cause balance problems?

Earwax. Everyone has earwax, but some people have more than others. If it builds up, it can block the ear and cause hearing problems as well as balance issues.

Does your balance get worse as you get older?

But as we grow older, the risks associated with falling over become greater: we lose physical strength and bone density, our sense of balance deteriorates and we take longer to recover from a fall. Alarmingly, this process begins around the age of 25.

What does loss of balance feel like?

People who experience a loss of balance may feel as though they are moving when they are standing still. They may feel unsteady on their feet or feel as though the space around them is spinning. They may feel confused or disorientated. This can make people lose their sense of where they are.

What medication causes balance problems?

Why don't I pick up my feet when I walk?

Foot drop, sometimes called drop foot, is a general term for difficulty lifting the front part of the foot. If you have foot drop, the front of your foot might drag on the ground when you walk. Foot drop isn't a disease. Rather, foot drop is a sign of an underlying neurological, muscular or anatomical problem.