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Balance Problems
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Older Adults

Balance Problems

Balance problems can cause dizziness and instability, potentially leading to falls and injuries, and often require medical evaluation to identify underlying causes.

Have you ever felt dizzy, lightheaded, or as if the room is spinning around you? If the feeling happens often, it could be a sign of a balance problem. Balance problems can make you feel unsteady. You may also have blurred vision, confusion, and disorientation. They are one cause of falls and fall-related injuries, such as a hip fracture (broken hip).

Some balance problems are due to problems in the inner ear. Others may involve another part of the body, such as the brain or the heart. Aging, infections, head injury, certain medicines, or problems with blood circulation may also cause balance problems.

It is important to see your doctor about balance problems. They can be a sign of other health problems, such as an ear infection or a stroke. Your doctor may send you to a specialist for a diagnosis. You may need a hearing test, blood tests, or imaging studies of your head and brain. Other possible tests look at your eye movements, and how your body responds to movement.

In some cases, treating the illness that is causing the disorder will help with the balance problem. Exercises, a change in diet, and some medicines also can help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Vertigo produces a false sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning or tilting, commonly triggered by head position changes and linked to inner ear issues. Lightheadedness feels like faintness or wooziness without the illusion of motion, often caused by sudden blood pressure drops (orthostatic hypotension) or dehydration. Ataxia refers to a lack of voluntary muscle coordination that causes unsteadiness, staggering, or clumsiness when walking, typically stemming from neurological dysfunction in the cerebellum or sensory nerves.
BPPV is one of the most common inner ear balance disorders, caused by microscopic calcium carbonate crystals (otoconia) detaching and drifting into the fluid-filled semicircular canals. This triggers brief, intense spinning sensations whenever you change head positions, such as rolling over in bed or looking up. It is effectively treated without medication using specialized canalith repositioning maneuvers, such as the Epley maneuver, which guide the crystals back to their proper chamber.
You should seek emergency medical care immediately if sudden balance loss or acute dizziness is accompanied by symptoms such as double vision, sudden hearing loss, facial droop, slurred speech, weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, confusion, or a sudden, severe thunderclap headache.
Effective home adjustments include removing throw rugs or securing them with double-sided tape, installing grab bars inside the shower and next to the toilet, ensuring adequate lighting throughout hallways and stairwells with nightlights, keeping floor pathways clear of clutter and electrical cords, and using non-slip rubber mats in wet areas. Wearing supportive, low-heeled footwear indoors instead of walking barefoot or in socks also significantly improves stability.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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