Why do I stagger when I walk?

If you have a balance disorder

balance disorder

A balance disorder is a disturbance that causes an individual to feel unsteady, for example when standing or walking. It may be accompanied by feelings of giddiness, or wooziness, or having a sensation of movement, spinning, or floating.

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Balance disorder - Wikipedia

, you may stagger when you try to walk, or teeter or fall when you try to stand up. You might experience other symptoms such as: Dizziness or vertigo (a spinning sensation) Falling or feeling as if you are going to fall.

What causes staggered walking?

An unsteady gait is an abnormality in walking that can be caused by diseases of or damage to the legs and feet (including the bones, joints, blood vessels, muscles, and other soft tissues) or to the nervous system that controls the movements necessary for walking.

What causes a person to stagger?

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).

What causes balance problems when walking?

Most balance problems occur because of brain or inner ear problems, or physical issues, such as broken bones or muscle injuries. Balance problems can make it difficult to walk or move.

What causes staggering and loss of balance?

Some diseases of the circulatory system, such as stroke, can cause dizziness and other balance problems. Low blood pressure can also cause dizziness. Head injury and many medicines may also lead to balance problems. Check with your doctor if you notice a problem while taking a medication.

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

When should you be concerned about balance problems?

Balance problems may cause dizziness and make you feel as though you're spinning or moving when you're actually standing or sitting still. As a result, you may not feel well. This can interfere with your daily life. It can also lead to falls, which can cause broken bones and other injuries.

What neurological conditions cause balance problems?

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.

What deficiency causes balance problems?

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.

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.

Why do I feel like my balance is off?

Causes of balance problems include medications, ear infection, a head injury, or anything else that affects the inner ear or brain. Low blood pressure can lead to dizziness when you stand up too quickly.

What does it mean when you walk off balance?

Most balance problems occur because of brain or inner ear problems, or physical issues, such as broken bones or muscle injuries. Balance problems can make it difficult to walk or move. They may make a person feel like the room is spinning.

Why am I so unsteady on my feet?

What causes a balance disorder? Inner ear problems are common causes of a balance disorder, especially in younger people. Other causes can include medicine side effects, vision problems, problems with nerves in the legs or feet, allergies, infections, arthritis, anxiety, low blood pressure, and dehydration.

What vitamin is good for balance?

Magnesium is one of the most essential minerals to help balance hormones. While you can take a supplement, and even spray your skin with magnesium spray, there's no better way of getting the magnesium you need than from the foods you eat.

What does staggering gait mean?

An unsteady, staggering gait is described as an ataxic gait because walking is uncoordinated and appears to be 'not ordered'. Many motor activities may be described as ataxic if they appear to others, or are perceived by patients, as uncoordinated.

What diseases cause unsteady gait?

What is the best treatment for balance problems?

Why do older people fart more?

Some experts believe that as you get older, you fart more because your metabolism slows down. The food sits longer in your digestive system, creating more gas. Also, your stomach makes less of the acid needed to digest food well. What's more, your digestive system is made up of muscles.

What is the main cause of balance problems?

Problems with balance can involve dizziness or vertigo, causing a spinning or falling sensation. Common causes of this disorienting feeling include inner ear problems, circulation changes, head or neck injuries or other conditions.

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.

How can you tell if you have low vitamin D?

Can't walk in a straight line?

The most common disorder is called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). This type of disorder occurs when particles in our inner ear have moved into the wrong position. As a result, most people feel a sense of dizziness with certain head movements. This can be resolved with treatments at Physical Therapy.

Can low vitamin D cause balance issues?

Observational studies show that individuals with low vitamin D levels are more likely to have worse physical function, for example, slower gait and worse physical performance and balance, as well as lower strength.”

Should I see a neurologist for balance issues?

Our neurologists and neurosurgeons diagnose and treat balance dysfunction that is the result of neurologic disorders or neurologic impairment. 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 medications cause balance problems?

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.