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What Causes Dizziness And Loss Of Balance While Walking?
Posted on
Tue, 28 Jun 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 28 Jun 2016
Answered on
Mon, 25 Jul 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : I am dizzy and losing my balance when I walk
Brief Answer:
different possible causes
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Dizziness (feeling lightheaded) may occur with vertigo (feeling of environmental movement/swaying or feel as though you are moving/swaying/losing balance).
Most common causes relate to the inner ear, though other causes would need to be ruled out.
Inner ear causes are BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), meniere's disease and vestibular neuronitis.
None of these are life threatening but the vertigo can make a person very uncomfortable.
Your doctor would need to assess you to determine if any of these are present.
Other less common causes would be migraine, some types of stroke, arrhymthmia (abnormal heart rate/rhythm which then affects blood supply to brain) , dehydration with abnormal electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium).
To find out the cause your doctor will find out if you have any- (A)ringing or other abnormal sounds in the ear,
(B)headache,
(C) hearing loss,
(D)if the dizziness is worse with certain head positions
(E)any palpitations
(F)any change in fluid intake, vomiting, diarrhea, fever
(G)any other relevant symptoms
He or she would need to listen to the heart, check pulse rhythm, ears, nervous system examination
Treatment would depend on the cause found
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
different possible causes
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Dizziness (feeling lightheaded) may occur with vertigo (feeling of environmental movement/swaying or feel as though you are moving/swaying/losing balance).
Most common causes relate to the inner ear, though other causes would need to be ruled out.
Inner ear causes are BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), meniere's disease and vestibular neuronitis.
None of these are life threatening but the vertigo can make a person very uncomfortable.
Your doctor would need to assess you to determine if any of these are present.
Other less common causes would be migraine, some types of stroke, arrhymthmia (abnormal heart rate/rhythm which then affects blood supply to brain) , dehydration with abnormal electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium).
To find out the cause your doctor will find out if you have any- (A)ringing or other abnormal sounds in the ear,
(B)headache,
(C) hearing loss,
(D)if the dizziness is worse with certain head positions
(E)any palpitations
(F)any change in fluid intake, vomiting, diarrhea, fever
(G)any other relevant symptoms
He or she would need to listen to the heart, check pulse rhythm, ears, nervous system examination
Treatment would depend on the cause found
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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