Do you regularly experience dizziness, lightheadedness, or feel like the room is spinning? If so, you might be suffering from a balance disorder. Whether seated, standing, or lying down, White Rock balance disorders can occur anywhere. Ensure to seek medical treatment for such a disorder to avoid dangerous falls if you often lose your balance.
Causes of balance disorders
Your body’s balance depends on the normal function of all the systems in your body. The systems include the visual system (eyes), vestibular system (inner ear), and proprioceptive system (sensory nerves). All the systems must work together so that you can be fully aware of your sense of surroundings.
The cause of your balance disorder will depend on your symptoms. The following are the different causes of balance disorders and what induces them.
Dizziness
- Inner ear problems
- Certain medications
- Psychiatric disorders
- Hyperventilation
Lightheadedness
Lightheadedness usually occurs when you don’t have enough blood reaching your brain. Your blood volume will significantly reduce if you have a heart condition like narrow blood vessels or a thickened heart muscle (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy).
Another lightheadedness cause is sitting up or standing too quickly from a lying position. In such a case, your blood pressure will drop, hence the faint feeling.
- Cardiovascular disease
- Postural hypotension
Vertigo (sense of room spinning)
- Migraine
- Head injury
- Vestibular neuritis
- Ramsay Hunt Syndrome (herpes zoster oticus)
- Motion sickness
- Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness
Stumbling or falling
- Peripheral neuropathy
- · Muscle and joint weakness and problems
- Vestibular problems
- Certain medications
Symptoms of balance disorders
Depending on the underlying problem, you will exhibit different symptoms. Although the primary symptom is loss of balance when you are walking or standing, it will be accompanied by one or more of the following:
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Vertigo
- Blurry vision
- Disorientation and confusion
- Fainting
- Stumbling or falling (loss of balance)
Treatment options
The treatment you will receive for your balance disorder depends on the cause. After your physician ascertains the causative factors, they will treat the underlying condition and, through that, treat your symptoms. Other than medications and surgery, other common treatments include:
Diet and lifestyle changes
Dietary changes may benefit patients who suffer from postural hypotension. Intake of more fluids or compression stockings may help with blood pressure drop. If you have Meniere’s disease, adjusting your diet might elevate or eliminate the symptoms of balance disorders.
Vestibular rehabilitation (balance retraining exercises)
Since your physician wants to help you regain your balance, they might recommend a physiotherapist. The therapist will create a customized exercise program to help you adjust to less balance while maintaining physical activity.
Positioning procedures
Your therapist might recommend a procedure that will clear particles from your inner ear. The particles will be deposited in a different part of the ear. Once your inner ear is clear, you can regain your sense of balance.
Conclusion
If you suffer from imbalance, it is essential to seek treatment immediately. You can visit RHB Neuro for any balance disorder treatment. The team at the center will carry out different diagnostic tests and offer personalized treatment. Call or book an appointment online today.