Many medical conditions can cause balance issues in seniors. However, most balance problems result from inner ear issues. The Mayo Clinic provides an article on the problems, symptoms and causes. Here’s a look.

Balance problems can make you feel dizzy, as if the room is spinning, unsteady, or lightheaded. You might feel that you’re going to fall down. These feelings can happen whether you’re lying down, sitting or standing.

Many body systems — including your muscles, bones, joints, vision, the balance organ in the inner ear, nerves, heart and blood vessels — must work normally for you to have normal balance. When these systems aren’t functioning well, you can experience balance problems.

Many medical conditions can cause balance problems. However, most balance problems result from issues in your balance end-organ in the inner ear (vestibular system).

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of balance problems include:

Sense of motion or spinning (vertigo)
Feeling of faintness or lightheadedness (presyncope)
Loss of balance or unsteadiness
Feeling a floating sensation or dizziness
Vision changes, such as blurriness
Confusion

Causes

Balance problems can be caused by several different conditions. The cause of balance problems is usually related to the specific sign or symptom. LEARN MORE.