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Possible Causes of Dizziness & Imbalance

Dizziness and feelings of imbalance are relatively common symptoms experienced by adults. In fact, most people experience this feelings for fleeting moments throughout their lives -- when you quickly sit up after laying down or see a 3-D movie, for example. Prolonged or extreme feelings of dizziness or imbalance can be indicative of other health problems, particularly diseases associated with your inner ear. If you're experiencing these problems consistently or powerfully, you should consult a doctor.

  1. Vestibular Disorders

    • Your vestibular system is in your inner ear and brain, and helps to control your balance. It can also sustain injury, in which case your balance may suffer -- depending on the severity of your injury, the damage could be permanent. While this can lead to a variety of disorders -- vestibular neuritis or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), for example -- vestibular injuries exhibit many of the same symptoms. Ear infection, whiplash and head trauma can all cause the symptoms of a vestibular disorder, imbalance and vertigo among them. According to the Vestibular Disorders Association, the symptoms may last only for a few moments or a lifetime.

    Migraines

    • Migraine headaches are debilitating not only because of the typical headache-associated pain, but also because of their other symptoms. Along with a sensitivity to light and sound, migraine sufferers may also experience periods of dizziness and vertigo -- even when they aren't having a migraine. If you suffer migraines on any kind of regular basis, it may be the cause of your dizziness.

    Circulation and More

    • Sudden drops in blood pressure can cause feelings of dizziness and imbalance, particularly when standing up. If you have had problems with your blood pressure before, this could be the cause of your dizziness. Your dizziness could also be indicative of a circulatory system disorder. Blood circulation disorders can disrupt the inner ear and brain specifically, which are the areas that control your balance. Dehydration is also a cause of dizziness, so make sure that you are drinking enough fluids on a regular basis.

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