Balance Disorders

Feeling dizzy, like the room is spinning, or becoming unsteady and feeling like you’ll fall are signs of a balance disorder. If your symptoms don’t improve, Randi Baculi, MD, and Sanam Zaidi, PA-C, at RHBNeuro can help. They have extensive experience evaluating your symptoms, identifying their cause, and applying personalized treatments to restore your balance. Don’t wait for dizziness to cause a dangerous fall before seeking help. Call the RHBNeuro office in Dallas, Texas, or book your appointment online.

What are balance disorders?

A balance disorder causes you to feel dizzy or unsteady, making it hard to walk, stand, and move without feeling like you might tip over. In many cases, the loss of balance leads to a potentially dangerous fall.

Anyone can develop a balance disorder, often because of a medical condition, but struggling with balance commonly happens as you get older.

What causes a balance disorder?

Your ability to balance depends on your inner ear (vestibular system), vision, and somatosensory system. The somatosensory system includes the nerves in your muscles, joints, and skin that detect touch, pressure, pain, movement, and body position.

All three systems must be in good health and synchronized with one another to maintain your balance. It only takes a problem in one area to cause a balance disorder.

Medical conditions that cause balance problems include:

• Strokes
• Brain tumors
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Parkinson’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Hydrocephalus (extra liquid surrounding the brain)
• Low blood pressure
• Parkinson’s disease
• Thyroid disease
• Inner ear infection, disease, or injury

Another cause is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), among the leading vertigo triggers. BPPV occurs when particles normally found in one part of your ear break free and end up in the fluid-filled canals that help you maintain your balance.

As you get older, natural changes in vision, hearing, and your sensory system, together with advancing muscle weakness, increase your risk of developing a balance disorder.

What symptoms do balance disorders cause?

If you have a balance problem, you can experience:

• Dizziness
• Vertigo (feeling like the room is spinning)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Lightheadedness
• Fainting
• Blurry vision
• Disorientation or confusion
• Stumbling or falling

You might not be able to stand up without feeling dizzy.

How are balance disorders treated?

RHBNeuro determines the cause of your balance disorder by completing one of many available tests to evaluate your vision, hearing, vestibular (inner ear) system, and central nervous system.

Your treatment depends on your symptoms, overall health, and diagnostic test results. Your provider begins by treating the underlying condition. In most cases, this treatment also takes care of your balance symptoms.

You might need to take an anti-vertigo medication to control the sensation of spinning and nausea. Or your provider could prescribe antiemetic drugs that stop nausea and vomiting.

If your balance problems arise from inner ear problems, your provider could recommend balance therapy (vestibular rehabilitation). Vestibular rehabilitation is an exercise program that trains your brain to overcome dizziness.

If you have ongoing dizziness or vertigo, don’t wait to seek help. Call RHBNeuro or book an appointment online.