If your balance is impaired, you may feel as if the room is spinning. You
may stagger when you try to walk or teeter or fall when you try to stand up.
Some of the symptoms you might experience are:
Other symptoms are nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, changes in heart rate
and blood pressure, and fear, anxiety, or
panic. Some people also feel
tired, depressed, or unable to concentrate. Symptoms may come and go over
short time periods or last for longer periods of time.
What causes a balance disorder?
A balance disorder may be caused by viral or bacterial infections in the
ear, a head injury, or blood circulation disorders that affect the inner ear
or brain. Many people experience problems with their sense of balance as
they get older. Balance problems and dizziness also can result from taking
certain medications.
In addition, problems in the visual and skeletal systems and the nervous
and circulatory systems can be the source of some posture and balance
problems. A circulatory system disorder, such as low blood pressure, can
lead to a feeling of dizziness when we suddenly stand up. Problems in the
skeletal or visual systems, such as arthritis or eye muscle imbalance, also
may cause balance problems. However, many balance disorders can begin all of
a sudden and with no obvious cause.
A brain tumor can be either benign (non cancerous) or malignant (cancerous), primary, or secondary. Causes and risk factors include age, gender, family history, and exposure to chemicals. Symptoms range from headaches, leg and feet numbness to seizures. Treatment is dependant upon the type and location of the brain tumor.
Migraine is usually periodic attacks of headaches on one or both sides of the head. These may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity of the eyes to light (photophobia), increased sensitivity to sound (phonophobia), dizziness, blurred vision, cognitive disturbances, and other symptoms. Treatments for migraine headache include therapies that may or may not involve medications.
A stroke results from impaired oxygen delivery to brain cells via the bloodstream. A stroke is also referred to as a CVA, or cerebrovascular incident. Symptoms of stroke include: sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance, and/or sudden severe headache with no known cause. A TIA, or transient ischemic attack is a short-lived temporary impairment of the brain caused by loss of blood supply. Stroke is a medical emergency.
Fainting, also referred to as blacking out, syncope, or temporary loss of consciousness has many causes. Often a person will have signs or symptoms prior to the fainting episode. Diagnosis and treatment depends upon the cause of the fainting or syncope episode.
Vertigo is a feeling of spinning movement, and at times accompanied by nausea and vomiting occur. Vertigo is most often associated with an inner ear problem. The treatment for vertigo can be lifestyle changes and medication if necessary.
Middle ear infection or inflammation (otitis media) is inflammation fo the middle ear. There are two types of otitis media, acute and chronic. Acute otitis media is generally short in duration, and chronic otitis media generally lasts several weeks. Seventy-five percent of children in the U.S. suffer from otitis media at some point. Treatment depends upon the type (chronic or acute).
Motion sickness, often referred to as car sickness, sea sickness, or air sickness, is a very common disturbance of the inner ear that is caused by repeated motion. The cause of motion sickness is complex. Symptoms of motion sickness include vomiting, nausea, dizziness, vertigo, sweating, and a feeling of malaise. Treatment of motion sickness include antihistamine medications such as meclizine (Bonine, Antivert, Dramamine), and scopolamine (Transderm Scop) a skin patch.
Meniere disease (idiopathic endolymphatic hydrops) is an inner ear disorder with symptoms that include vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, and the sensation of ear fullness. Diuretics, anti-vertigo, anti-nausea and low salt diets are the primary treatment for Meniere disease. Surgery may be recommended if the vertigo cannot be controlled with medication.
Noise-induced hearing loss may be an acoustic trauma (temporary hearing loss), or permanent due to an acute acoustic trauma. Experts agree that continual exposure to more then 85 dBs (decibels) is dangerous to the ears. Ear plugs and ear muffs can help prevent noise-induced hearing loss as well as decreasing exposure to loud noises.
Hearing loss (deafness) may be present at birth or it may manifest later in life. Deafness may be genetic or due to damage from noise. Treatment of deafness depends upon its cause.
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