A balance disorder is a disturbance that causes an individual to feel unsteady bor off balance. It may be accompanied by the sensation of movement, spinning, or floating. Balance is the result of several body systems working together – the eyes (visual system), the ears (vestibular system) and the body’s sense of where it is in space need to be intact. When balance is impaired, an individual may have difficulty maintaining upright orientation. For example, an individual may not be able to walk without staggering, or may not even be able to stand.
A balance disorder may exist if you feel:
- A sensation of dizziness or vertigo
- Lightheadedness or feeling vertigo
- Lightheadedness or feeling woozy
- Problems reading and difficulty seeing
- Disorientation
Some indivduals may also experience nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, faintness, changes in heart rate and blood pressure, fear, anxiety, or panic. Some reactions to the symptoms are fatigue, depression, and decreased concentration. The symptoms may appear and disappear over short time periods or may last for a longer period of time.