Dizziness, vertigo and balance disorders (2023)

FAQs

What are three common medical conditions that may cause balance issues? ›

Vertigo is commonly caused by a problem with the way balance works in the inner ear, although it can also be caused by problems in certain parts of the brain. Causes of vertigo may include: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) – where certain head movements trigger vertigo. migraines – severe headaches.

What causes balance disorders? 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.

Sit or lie down immediately when you feel dizzy. Lie still with your eyes closed in a darkened room if you're experiencing a severe episode of vertigo. Avoid driving a car or operating heavy machinery if you experience frequent dizziness without warning. Avoid using caffeine, alcohol, salt and tobacco.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Gait and balance issues can cause unsteadiness and difficulty standing and walking. Depending on the cause, a person may also experience vertigo, dizziness, and motion sickness, for example. Common causes of these issues in adults include musculoskeletal injuries, arthritis, and visual or inner ear problems.

Vitamin D may improve muscle strength and function, as well as balance due to the improved strength.

What part of the body controls balance? ›

The vestibular system is one of the sensory systems that provides your brain with information about balance, motion, and the location of your head and body in relation to your surroundings. There are three loops in your inner ear, called semicircular canals. The first canal senses up-and-down movement.

Routine blood tests – Tests for blood sugar, blood counts, electrolytes and thyroid function help identify cases of dizziness. For example anemia and low blood sugar are known to cause dizziness. This should be differentiated from vertigo.

Turning, tilting or moving your head quickly. Keeping your movements slow and steady should help you to avoid triggering your symptoms. Stress, anxiety and depression can all trigger vertigo attacks. Do what you can to avoid these pressures or to manage them when they can't be prevented.

Medicine for vertigo

A number of medicines can be prescribed to help with the symptoms of vertigo. They include prochlorperazine or antihistamines such as cinnarizine, cyclizine or promethazine. These medicines are the same ones that are used to help treat any feeling of sickness (nausea) and motion sickness.

If you think that you have a balance disorder, schedule an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor may refer you to an otolaryngologist, a doctor with special training in problems of the ear, nose, throat, head, and neck.

In a general sense, vertigo-associated disease is commonly treated using vestibular blocking agents or VBAs. These include medications such as antihistamines (promethazine or betahistine), benzodiazepines (diazepam or lorazepam), or antiemetics (prochlorperazine or metoclopramide).

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.

Three systems in the body act in concert to maintain stable orientation and the sensation of being well balanced. These three systems are the visual system, the vestibular (inner ear) system, and the proprioceptive (sensory nerves) system.

These may include: Sudden numbness, tingling, weakness, or loss of movement in your face, arm, or leg, especially on only one side of your body. Sudden vision changes. Sudden trouble speaking.

Vertigo. Vertigo is a symptom of various conditions, and it often accompanies a loss of balance. There are two main types of vertigo: Peripheral vertigo: This often results from a condition affecting the inner ear, such as an inner ear infection or Ménière's disease.

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.

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

Anything that interferes with normal blood flow throughout your body and brain can result in balance and dizziness problems. This includes low blood pressure, heart arrhythmias, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), heart failure, and heart valve disease.

Neck injuries, disorders and conditions sometimes cause more than pain. They can also cause dizziness and poor balance. Cervical vertigo (or cervicogenic dizziness) creates a sensation that an individual is spinning or the world around them is spinning. It also affects your sense of balance and concentration.

When patients present to the ED with dizziness, oftentimes the provider will order a computed tomography (CT) scan to rule out serious medical problems, such as intracranial bleeding or stroke.

To conduct this test, your healthcare provider will simply turn your head 45 degrees to one side. Then, you'll quickly lie on your back, with your head off the side of the table, maintaining the 45-degree head turn for at least 30 seconds. If you experience vertigo during this test, you likely have BPPV.

If you experience vertigo for more than a day or you are having regular bouts that are affecting your daily life, you should go and see your ENT to get help alleviating the symptoms and to find out what the cause could be.

Peripheral nerves

The nerves outside of your brain and spinal cord can become damaged, which is called peripheral neuropathy. Weakness, numbness, pain and balance issues can be caused by peripheral neuropathy because it makes it difficult to determine where your body is relative to other objects or the ground.

Inside the inner ear is the vestibular system, where we perceive balance. This system connects to the brain, which gives us a message when we are about to fall and directs the body to take corrective action. But with age, cells in the vestibular system die off, affecting our ability to correct our position.

What is a balance test? ›

Balance tests are a group of tests that check for balance disorders. A balance disorder is a condition that makes you feel unsteady on your feet and dizzy. Dizziness is a general term for different symptoms of imbalance.

Impaired coordination. Ataxia, or impaired balance and coordination, is a neurological symptom that can be caused by B12 deficiency. As such, a person with B12 deficiency may have difficulty walking and balancing ( 2 ).

According to the scientists, taking 4,000 IU of vitamin D per day might not be a problem for young people, but it could compromise older adults' ability to walk or catch balance to avoid a fall.

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.

Central vertigo is due to a problem in the brain, usually in the brain stem or the back part of the brain (cerebellum).

This means that these proteins could serve as blood biomarkers, which may help improve the early detection and diagnosis of hearing loss or vertigo. As a result, he has developed and patented the first-ever blood tests for these conditions and is currently testing their promise at UConn Health.

CT is not a good first-line test for vertigo, and patients deemed to require imaging should undergo MRI.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) An MRI scan may be used to help your doctor identify possible causes for your vertigo symptoms and rule out others. It uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create images of the inside of your body.

Vertigo could also affect your ability to drive. You should avoid driving if you've recently had episodes of vertigo and there's a chance you may have another episode while you're driving.

What is the most common cause of vertigo? ›

BPPV is the most common cause of vertigo. Infection. A viral infection of the vestibular nerve, called vestibular neuritis, can cause intense, constant vertigo. If you also have sudden hearing loss, you may have labyrinthitis.

Types of Vertigo: Peripheral, Central, BPPV, and More.

Sometimes doctors recommend antihistamines, such as meclizine (Antivert), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), or dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) to help with vertigo episodes. Anticholinergics, such as the Transderm Scop patch, may also help with dizziness.

In general, short periods of vertigo or motion sickness respond well to over-the-counter antihistamines. Two common ones are dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and meclizine (Bonine). See your doctor about ongoing episodes of vertigo.

If you feel dizzy, sit or lie down at once. This will lower your chance of falling down. If you have vertigo, it may help to lie down in a dark, quiet place with your eyes closed. Drinking water may also give you fast relief, especially if you're dizzy because you're dehydrated.

Peripheral nerves

The nerves outside of your brain and spinal cord can become damaged, which is called peripheral neuropathy. Weakness, numbness, pain and balance issues can be caused by peripheral neuropathy because it makes it difficult to determine where your body is relative to other objects or the ground.

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.

If you think that you have a balance disorder, schedule an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor may refer you to an otolaryngologist, a doctor with special training in problems of the ear, nose, throat, head, and neck.

Does a neurologist deal with balance problems? ›

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.

The vestibular system is one of the sensory systems that provides your brain with information about balance, motion, and the location of your head and body in relation to your surroundings. There are three loops in your inner ear, called semicircular canals. The first canal senses up-and-down movement.

Science American explains that the cerebellum – sometimes quaintly known as the “little brain“ – is located at the very back of your skull. The cerebellum controls a number of functions including movement, speech, balance, and posture.

Vitamin D may improve muscle strength and function, as well as balance due to the improved strength.

Gait and balance issues can cause unsteadiness and difficulty standing and walking. Depending on the cause, a person may also experience vertigo, dizziness, and motion sickness, for example. Common causes of these issues in adults include musculoskeletal injuries, arthritis, and visual or inner ear problems.

Injuries, such as fractures (broken bones), sprains, and tendinitis. Movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease. Neurologic diseases, including multiple sclerosis and peripheral nerve disorders. Vision problems.

Ataxia is a loss of muscle control. People with ataxia lose muscle control in their arms and legs. This may lead to a lack of balance, coordination, and trouble walking.

Most adults don't think about their balance until they fall. 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.

“Typically, a person in their 50s should be able to balance on one leg for around 40 seconds. Someone in their 60s is looking at 20 seconds, and someone in their 70s is around 10 seconds,” Lubetzky continued.

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.