Loss of Balance

Home » Symptoms » Loss of Balance

Introduction

Maintaining balance is something we often take for granted until it becomes a challenge. To maintain proper balance, your muscles, bones, joints, eyes, vestibular system of the inner ear, nerves, heart and blood vessels must be working normally. When these systems are not working properly, your balance can be affected. Loss of balance is a condition characterised by feeling unsteady or dizzy. While standing, sitting, or lying down, you may feel that you are moving, spinning, or floating. When walking, you may feel as if you are tipping over. In this blog, we will discuss more about loss of balance causes, symptoms, treatment and loss of balance Ayurvedic treatment.

Loss of Balance Causes

There are many possible loss of balance causes, and they can involve issues with your inner ear, vision, muscles, nerves, or brain. Common ones include:

Inner ear problems

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) causes episodes of dizziness that can range from mild to severe, triggered by specific head positions. It occurs when small calcium crystals (otoconia) are displaced from their original position in the utricle within the inner ear.
Labyrinthitis: a viral or bacterial infection of the inner ear causing dizziness, nausea, vertigo, and loss of hearing.
Vestibular Neuritis: inflammation of the vestibular nerve, characterised by acute spontaneous vertigo without hearing loss
Meniere’s Disease: chronic, severe and incapacitating episodes of severe dizziness, tinnitus, and hearing loss associated with fluid imbalance of the inner ear.
Perilymph Fistula: a small rupture in the membranes that separate the air-filled middle ear from the fluid-filled inner ear due to head trauma. Symptoms include a full sensation in the ear, sudden hearing loss or sensitivity to sounds, dizziness, and discomfort with motion.

Blood pressure fluctuation

A sudden drop in blood pressure may reduce the flow of blood to the brain, potentially causing temporary dizziness, light-headedness, and unsteadiness when the person quickly stands up. Acute elevations in blood pressure may result in headaches, confusion, vision changes, and balance issues in more severe cases.

Muscle weakness or joint stiffness

Weak muscles or stiff joints can make it increasingly difficult to be stable on your feet. Nerve damage, arthritis, ageing, or injury can all make you weaker and less flexible; this reduces coordination and affects your overall balance.

Neurological conditions

Neurological conditions (e.g., stroke, cervical spondylosis, Mal de Debarquement syndrome, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease) can impact brain and nerve signals that are necessary for controlling balance, which can lead to issues with balance and walking and falling risks.

Changes in vision or eye disorders

Conditions such as oscillopsia (the visual illusion of objects oscillating) and binocular vision problems (difficulty of both eyes to build focus and fuse images) can create issues with space awareness as well as balance disruptions. Vision loss (most typically age-related macular degeneration and cataracts) has been correlated with risks of falls and balance problems.

Side effects of certain medications

Some drugs, including antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, blood pressure and heart disease medications, diabetes medications, and sedatives, may cause loss of balance as a side effect, leading to feelings of light-headedness or drowsiness.

Migraine

Migraine can cause motion sensitivity phenomena, including symptoms of kinetosis, vestibular symptoms and alterations in balance.

Acoustic neuroma

Initial signs of an acoustic neuroma or vestibular schwannoma can include unilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and loss of balance. This benign, generally slow-growing tumor arises from the nerve that supplies hearing/balance in the inner ear.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome

Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a shingles outbreak that affects the facial nerve and damages the vestibular nerve. The vestibular nerve is the nerve that governs balance, and therefore, RHS can lead to dizziness and balance issues.

Head injury

People with traumatic brain injury (TBI) might experience balance issues and dizziness.

Motion sickness

Travel and screen usage can cause vertigo and nausea. Motion sickness is common for most people who experience migraines.

Loss of Balance Symptoms

Loss of balance symptoms vary depending on the cause, but may commonly include:

Feeling unsteady or lightheaded (presyncope)
A sensation of spinning (vertigo)
Difficulty walking straight
Needing support to stand or walk
Frequent stumbling or falling
Blurred vision or difficulty focusing
Nausea in some cases
Confusion or loss of orientation

Insurance Backed

Precision Ayurveda
Medical Care

Diagnosis

A physician will start with a physical exam and assessment of your symptoms. They may evaluate your gait, muscle strength, reflexes, and coordination. The following tests may be included:

Hearing and vision tests
Vestibular test batteries—to assess the reflexes of the inner ear (vestibular) balance system and the muscles of fingers, eyes, and head.
Blood tests to find out underlying causes.
Imaging, such as an MRI or CT scan, if a neurological cause is suspected.
Functional tests of balance include the Romberg test, which assesses your ability to stand still with your eyes closed while maintaining stability.
Blood pressure and heart rate examination.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Loss of Balance

Loss of balance Ayurvedic treatment focuses on improving the body’s stability and calming the nervous system. Here are a few more common treatments that could be used:

Abhyanga – a warm oil massage helps stimulate circulation and relax muscles
Shirodhara – gently pouring warm oils onto the forehead to relax the mind and promote better sensory coordination.
Specific herbal preparations that assist in improving nerve health, mental clarity
Supportive therapies like Marsha Nasya (nourishing nasal oil therapy) and Shiropichu (application of medicated oil to the crown of the head) further help in calming vertigo and strengthening the sensory pathways.

When combined with a personalised diet, gentle yoga, and breathing practices, these therapies work together to not just treat symptoms but also bring lasting harmony to your system.

Home Remedies to Improve Balance

A few simple things you can do at home to work on strengthening your balance over time are

Try standing on one leg for a few seconds on each side
Walk in a straight line with your heel touching your toe at each step
Do slow, controlled head turns while you are standing still to train your inner ear
Make sure to remove any trip hazards in your home, such as loose rugs or clutter
Eat well and eat plenty of nutrient-dense foods including leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and whole grains to support your muscles and nerves

When to Seek the Doctors

You should see a doctor if, along with loss of balance you experience:

Sudden loss of balance
Difficulty with speech, weakness in the arms and/or legs, or changes in vision
Fainting or loss of consciousness
Frequent falls
Symptoms that persist despite adequate rest
Persistent or severe loss of balance

Conclusion

There are many causes of loss of balance, ranging from simple ear infections that cause vertigo to serious neurological conditions. Understanding symptoms and obtaining the correct diagnosis are important steps in the treatment of your loss of balance. It does not matter if you obtain conventional treatment or consider loss of balance Ayurvedic treatment, taking care of your loss of balance earlier will improve your stability and lower your risk of falls. You can also help yourself with simple lifestyle changes, in addition to some home exercises and practicing mindful eating along with healthy eating, which also can support your balance.

FAQs

What are the most common causes of loss of balance?

Loss of balance can be caused by problems in the inner ear, sudden changes in blood pressure, weakness or stiffness in your joints or muscles, neurologic disorders, changes in your eyesight, some medications, migraines, head injuries, motion sickness and sometimes even minor issues like ear infections or eye strain can contribute to feeling unsteady.

Can anxiety cause loss of balance?

Anxiety can make you feel lightheaded, unsteady or dizzy, especially in panic or stressful situations. Anxiety changes your breathing and heart rate, and changes the brain's interpretation of balance signals.

What is the Ayurvedic approach to improving balance?

Ayurveda focuses on calming the nervous system, strengthening the body, and restoring sensory coordination. For long-term balance support, Ayurveda combines therapies like Abhyanga, Shirodhara, Nasya, and herbal preparations with diet, yoga, and breathing practices.

How can you test your balance at home?

You can stand on one leg for a few seconds on each side or walk in a straight line with your heel touching your toe at each step. Another simple test is to stand still with your eyes closed and see how well you can stay steady.

When is loss of balance a serious condition?

When you have a sudden onset of loss of balance, speech difficulties, weakness in your arms or legs, a change in vision, fainting or loss of consciousness, or repeated falls, this is serious. It can signal that you are having a stroke (or other medical emergency).

What foods help with balance and coordination?

Leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and whole grains provide nutrients that support muscle and nerve health. Eating a balanced, nutrient-rich diet can help your body stay steady and responsive.

REFERENCES

Wang, J., Li, Y., Yang, G.-Y., & Jin, K. (2025). Age-Related Dysfunction in Balance: A Comprehensive Review of Causes, Consequences, and Interventions. Aging and Disease, 16(2), 714–737.

Kahiel, Z., Grant, A., Aubin, M. J., Buhrmann, R., Kergoat, M. J., & Freeman, E. E. (2021). Vision, Eye Disease, and the Onset of Balance Problems: The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. American Journal of Ophthalmology, 231, 170–178.

Koenen, L., & Andaloro, C. (2025). Meniere Disease. In StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.

Park, J. H., Kang, Y. J., & Horak, F. B. (2015). What Is Wrong with Balance in Parkinson’s Disease? Journal of Movement Disorders, 8(3), 109–114.

Geisinger, D., Elyoseph, Z., Zaltzman, R., Mintz, M., & Gordon, C. R. (2024). Functional Impact of Bilateral Vestibular Loss and the Unexplained Complaint of Oscillopsia. Frontiers in Neurology, 15, 1365369.

Did the information meet your needs?

As we work hard to improve our services, your feedback is important to us. Please take a moment to help us serve you better.

Stay Connected to Health and Wellness

Subscribe to our hospital newsletter for the latest health tips, updates on services, patient stories, and community events. Sign up today and stay informed!

Homepage B RCB

Please fill out the form below to Request a call back

Patient details

First Name

Last Name

Mobile Number

Select Diseases

Select Preferred Center

Please select preferred center

Briefly Describe Your Health Condition

I have read the Terms and Conditions and the Privacy Policy. I hereby provide my consent for the use of my personal data for the communication of relevant information regarding myself, my medical treatment, or the patient I am representing.

Search