Why do I feel off balance when I walk?

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).

What is being off balance 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.

How do you treat feeling off balance?

You might be prescribed medications such as antihistamines, sedatives, antibiotics, or steroids; physical or occupational therapy; surgery; repositioning exercises or vestibular retraining programs.

What can cause balance problems?

Can balance problems be cured?

Balance problems may appear before other symptoms. Treatment for chronic medical conditions vary. Most progressive disorders are not curable, but medication and rehabilitation may slow the disease.

What's causing you to feel unsteady or off balance? | OBTS

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 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.

What neurological conditions cause balance problems?

Can heart problems cause balance issues?

Heart Disease

One main artery supplies blood to the organs of the hearing and balance systems. Due to this blood vessel's small size and the lack of alternate routes for blood to travel, the hearing and balance systems are particularly susceptible to decreased blood flow and damage.

What kind of doctor should I see for balance problems?

While your doctor may be able to determine the cause of your dizziness, a neurologist has the tools and tests available to diagnose and treat whatever the root cause is.

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.

Does anxiety cause off-balance feeling?

Anxiety dizziness, lightheadedness, off-balance, vertigo-like, and woozy feelings are common symptoms of anxiety disorder. Anxiety dizziness can also trigger anxiety, including anxiety attacks and panic attacks.

How can you tell if you have low vitamin D?

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 Vitamin Are you lacking if you get dizzy?

“Vitamin B12 deficiency is easy to detect and treat, but is an often overlooked cause of dizziness,” he notes. Ask your doctor about having a simple blood test to check your B12 levels if you're having dizzy spells. Good sources of vitamin B12 include meat, dairy products, and fortified breakfast cereals.

Can blood pressure affect your balance?

Dizziness and feeling slightly off balance are early warning signs of a stroke caused by high blood pressure. These symptoms occur due to lack of oxygen supply to the brain.

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.

Can anxiety affect walking?

People experiencing anxiety and inhibition have more activity in the right side of the brain, causing them to walk in a leftward trajectory.

Why do I feel like I'm swaying?

Benign positional vertigo (BPV) is the most common cause of vertigo, the sensation of spinning or swaying. It causes a sudden sensation of spinning, or like your head is spinning from the inside. You can have brief periods of mild or intense dizziness if you have BPV.

Can stress cause balance issues?

Stress and anxiety can elevate hormones like cortisol that impair the function of your vestibular system that controls your balance. There are many other causes of vertigo, including inner ear infections and Meniere's disease. If your vertigo is reoccurring or severe, you should see a doctor to get a proper diagnosis.

At what age do you start losing your balance?

The fact is, balance declines begin somewhere between 40 to 50 years of age. The National Institute of Health reports that one in three people over 65 will experience a fall each year.

What can seniors do to improve balance?

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.