Balance problems aren't nice because you may experience disorders such as vertigo as a result. Simply turning your head to the right or left is enough for some people to feel nauseous or dizzy. And, young people aren't immune to balance conditions. Therefore, it's essential to maintain a high level of balance at any age.

Of course, this is hard to do when you don't know the common causes. Only then can you tweak your habits and routine to reduce the risk. With that in mind, you'll find an outline of the leading causes below.

Ear infection

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), is the most common form of balance disorder. While the exact root cause is still unknown, scientists believe that an ear infection worsens BPPV. This is problematic because of the sensation that you may experience from merely turning over in bed or reaching for an object on a high shelf.

An intense form of vertigo is enough to stop people with BPPV in their tracks. If it occurs a lot, it has the potential to get in the way of your routine. An ENT doctor can recommend medication if necessary, yet it could be unnecessary by showing you the Epley maneuver. The Epley maneuver is a technique that reduces dizziness by combining sharp sit-ups with quick amounts of rest.

Labyrinthitis is another inner ear condition, and an ENT doctor will treat it with drugs.

Head injury

Head injuries are linked to balance problems. You may think your equilibrium is off and you need to focus more; however, this isn't usually the case. When you hit your head, it's not uncommon to damage the ear or ear canal. For instance, the drum or cochlea bones may snap or break.

As a result, hearing loss is inevitable. Hearing loss affects your balance because you are less aware of your surroundings and more susceptible to trips and falls. You're three times more likely to fall if you deal with mild hearing loss of at least 25 decibels. Thankfully, an ear, nose and throat doctor can evaluate whether you require a hearing aid. Wearing a hearing device will boost your ear health and stop you from experiencing balance issues such as tripping and falling.

Listening to loud music

Listening to loud noises, such as music, is a leading factor in contracting tinnitus. Tinnitus is notorious because a large volume of the population experiences it at some point in their lifetime. However, it's more than an annoying buzzing that won't go away – it's a sign of Meniere’s disease. MD is a condition that involves intense vertigo, hearing loss and the sensation that your ears are full.

Combine these disorders and balance impairment is somewhat inevitable. Although the cause for Meniere’s disease is a mystery, it doesn't mean there isn't a cure. Your ENT doctor can recommend surgery on your vestibular system to try and combat the symptoms. However, this is the last resort and only considered if medication, home exercises, and dietary changes aren't effective.

Tinnitus can occur as a result of an infection or head injury, but it can also happen if you listen to loud music or work and socialize in noisy environments.

Shingles

Shingles is a skin condition that is caused by a virus. On occasions, the disorder has affected nerves in the face close to the ear. It's known as Ramsey hunt syndrome (RHS), and it happens to five out of every 100,000 people in the US. Relative to the population, currently around 15,000 Americans deal with RHS.

If you fall into this category, you can experience everything from hearing loss to ringing in your ears and vision disturbance. These conditions can lead to balance problems, so you must schedule a test with an ENT doctor as soon as possible if you spot the warning signs.

Medical help is the only way to fix the problem and prevent balance issues from occurring in the future.

How can ENT Physicians Inc. help?

At ENT Physicians Inc., we take your inquiries seriously. We run detailed, thorough checks to ensure there are no underlying problems before moving forward with a diagnosis. To do this, we collect your medical records and perform a physical examination. By answering our questions honestly and openly, we can create the most suitable plan that's tailored to your needs.

We always treat our patients as individuals, which is why we use the following for every case: