What causes dizziness and other balance problems?
Balance problems can be caused by a wide variety of problems affecting the inner ear, central nervous system, vision, spine, feet and legs, circulatory system and/or metabolism. It can be due to something as common as dehydration, or a complex disease or combination of problems. For many people, dizziness is related to a problem in a portion of the inner ear called the
“labyrinth” or “vestibular system”.
Common Causes of Vestibular Disorders:
-
Infection or inflammation related to labyrinthitis, vestibular neuronitis, otitis media or allergies
-
Holes or weak spots in the cochlea (cochlear fistula or dehiscence)
-
Migraine
-
Motion sickness
-
Tumors affecting the auditory nerve
-
Pressure on blood vessels in the neck or brain
-
Displaced crystals in the labyrinth (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo - BPPV)
-
Autoimmune inner ear disease
-
Meniere’s disease or endolymphatic hydrops
-
Diseases such as diabetes or other metabolic disorders
-
Changes in health of the inner ear related to aging
-
Ototoxic drugs
-
Kidney disease
-
Brain injuries due to concussions or stroke (cerebrovascular accident)
Other Causes of Balance Disorders:
-
Vision problems, especially disorders affecting eye movements and focus
-
Hyperventilation
-
Dehydration
-
Stress, fatigue or inattention
-
Head Trauma
-
Decreased blood flow to the brain
-
Vasovagal Syndrome
-
Peripheral neuropathy affecting the feet and legs
-
Tumors on the brainstem or spinal column
-
Arteriosclerosis
-
Arthritis in the neck vertebrae
