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