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Bad Balance Could Be More Serious Than You Think

Instability of the body

Dizziness and balance problems are often overlooked because people put them down to general clumsiness. Sometimes they might be right but it could be an indication that there’s something else going on. Poor balance is often a symptom of more serious health problems and if you ignore it for too long, you could be putting yourself at risk. There are all sorts of reasons that you might be struggling with your balance so if you’re having problems, listen to your body and go to the doctor right away. You never know if you could have one of these conditions.

Ear Infections

Ear infections are a pretty common ailment that can affect people of all ages. They’ll cause you a lot of pain as well as disrupting the inner ear systems that deal with your balance.

They tend to be a problem in young children, but some adults are still susceptible to them. If you’re experiencing ear infections, they are fairly easily treated. Just see your doctor and they should be able to give you some antibiotics that will clear it up easily. If you find that they just keep coming back, see an audiologist and get a more extensive examination done. There might be a larger underlying problem that is making you more prone to getting ear infections and stopping them from clearing up so quickly.

Meniere’s Disease

Meniere’s disease is a very rare condition that people don’t really know that much about. It usually affects people between the age of 20 and 50 so a lot of people are at risk. The symptoms can range from dizziness and vertigo all the way up to hearing loss. If it’s left untreated for too long, you risk becoming permanently deaf. Those first feelings of dizziness could lead to something far more serious so get it checked out before it’s too late. You could also experience a ringing in your ears from time to time. It’s caused by a buildup of fluid in the ear that happens for a few different reasons. People who suffer from allergies have a much higher risk of developing the condition so if that’s you, be aware of any dizziness that you might be feeling.

Motion Sickness

If you’re feeling dizzy often, but only in certain situations, it might be something as simple as motion sickness. It’s not dangerous but it can be a problem. When driving in the car is the most common place that people suffer from motion sickness which can cause issues. Your doctor will be able to give you medications that can help to curb some of those symptoms, but they aren’t miracle cures. However, there are other preventative measures that you can take to reduce the effects. Making sure that you haven’t eaten or drunk any alcohol in the few hours before driving helps a lot. It’s also important to try to focus on one specific point while you’re in the car. If you don’t want to take medication, ginger is an effective natural remedy for motion sickness.

Head Injury

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) could lead to bad balance. Dizziness while standing or sitting is a common after-effect of TBI, affecting 30-60% of those who have had this type of injury.

Any time the head is hurt, it’s important to see a doctor right away due to the seriousness of the incident. The professional can provide insights into what type of strategy to use to improve balance, and how quickly to ramp up certain activities safely to help you return to regular living again.

Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

This health problem that mainly affects the older generation so look out for it in later life. Catching it early is the key to making sure that you don’t develop any more serious complications. When you’ve been diagnosed, you’ll need to take antibiotics to fight the virus, as well as pain medication to relieve the symptoms while they get to work. Anti-anxiety medication is also great for treating any problems that you’ve got with your balance.

Having bad balance might just mean that you’re a bit clumsy but in some cases, it could be an indicator of something more serious so don’t just ignore it.

53 thoughts on “Bad Balance Could Be More Serious Than You Think”

  1. dgkaye

    A most excellent post Christy. I know a few women with Meuniere’s disease, and it’s amazing how many people aren’t aware that ear infections can impact balance. :) xx

    Reply
    1. Christy B

      So true that the connection between the ear and balance is elusive to some people… I am glad you are doing well and I am loving your blog posts, my friend :)

  2. Graham in Hats

    May I add:-
    Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

    Whilst it is benign in itself, It’s danger is in suddenly falling over.
    A principle symptom is always falling to the same side.

    This quite easily resolved by a a none invasive technique. There is a youtube of the method

    It never rains but it pours. :-)

    Reply
    1. Christy B

      Absolutely you may add that info, Graham -> always feel free to add information you think important here. It adds to the value of the post! Thank you :)

  5. Resa

    Clumsiness has been a hallmark of my personality my entire life. LOL I’ll have to pay extra attention!
    Ramsay Hunt Syndrome is the second thing I have found out about that someone who has had chicken-pox can develop.The other is shingles. What else is CP hiding?
    Great post, Christy!

    Reply
    1. Christy B

      Ohhhhh ~ I think we have so much to be aware of and it’s a constant learning process, Resa. I’m glad you and I are open to learning so that we can safeguard ourselves as best possible. PS I can be clumsy too, even falling UP stairs, if you can believe it!

  9. richa pandey

    Very nice post Christy. Few years ago I suffered from some infection in ear due to prolonged cold and cough I faced problem of balancing and I felt everything rotating in circular motion. It’s very necessary to cure it on time. Grt post

    Reply
    1. Christy B

      I would suggest seeing your doctor before doing either and getting the professional’s opinion. Nice to have you here! Hopefully this post proves helpful to your family member.

  15. Loretta

    Great post Christy. I had a major issue with vertigo that lasted over a year! Some days it was so bad, I couldn’t work or drive. I had to do the Brandt-Daroff exercise for months to get rid of it.

    Not fun.

    Reply
  18. Baydreamer

    Thanks for all the information, Christy. Luckily, I haven’t had any balance issues, so knock on wood, but this is all good to know. It’s so easy to assume a symptom is trivial. It’s a cross between being a hypochondriac and quite the opposite. Hope you’re doing well! ❤

    Reply
  19. rollyachabotbooks

    Hi Christy… very interesting post and packed with great information. A few years back I took a rather hard tumble and bumped my head. The result within a day or two was each time I attempted to stand I would lose my balance. After consulting the doctor he recommended this

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epley_maneuver

    Apparently I had knocked some crystals loose and the result was improper balance.

    Hugs from Alberta

    Reply

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