A balance problem can be an ear infection or a stroke

Have you felt dizzy, lightheaded, or as if the room is spinning? **If it
happens often, it could be a balance problem.**

Balance problems make you feel unsteady, and may bring blurred vision,
confusion and disorientation. They are one cause of **falls and fall-related
injuries**, such as a broken hip — which is where most of the real damage from
them comes from.

Where they come from

• The inner ear — the most familiar cause
• Another part of the body entirely, such as the brain or the heart
• Ageing
• Infections
• Head injury
• Certain medicines
• Problems with blood circulation

That spread is the point. "Balance problem" names a sensation, not an organ.

Why to see a doctor rather than wait

**Balance problems can be a sign of other health problems — an ear infection,
or a stroke.** Those two sit at opposite ends of urgency, and the feeling
itself does not tell you which you have.

Your doctor may refer you to a specialist. Tests may include a **hearing
test**, blood tests, or imaging of the head and brain. Others look at
eye movements and at how your body responds to movement — both of
which test the balance system directly rather than looking for damage.

Treatment

In some cases, treating the illness causing the disorder resolves the
balance problem — which is the best argument for finding the cause rather than
managing the symptom. Exercises, a change in diet, and some medicines also
help.

*Source: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders,
via MedlinePlus.*