Brain fog, vertigo, floating sensations: The dark side of scrolling in bed
Prolonged screen use, especially doomscrolling in bed, can lead to balance disorders triggering vertigo. These are sensations involving dizziness, imbalance, and "floating sensations."
Ever wondered how you opened just one reel your friend shared, only to end up scrolling endlessly for two hours while lying in bed? From doomscrolling late into the night to staring at screens during long metro rides, excessive reel watching has quietly become part of daily life for many people.
This constant screen exposure is silently affecting the body’s balance system.
Doctors are now seeing a growing number of younger patients reporting symptoms such as dizziness, imbalance, “floating sensations”, visual disorientation and unexplained vertigo -- problems once mostly associated with ageing.
“Balance disorders are silently emerging as a major public health concern,” said Dr. Anirban Biswas, Principal Director, Institute of Neurotology at Pacific OneHealth Hospital.
He stated that nearly one in six people experience some form of balance disorder at any point in time.
“If we apply this data to Delhi NCR alone, the estimated number of balance disorder patients crosses 1.25 crore. In India, the number of people suffering from balance disorders today will be nothing less than 22 crores,” Dr. Biswas said.
WHY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SUDDENLY FEELING DIZZY
To answer this, we need to first understand that there has been a major demographic shift in recent years.
Traditionally linked to older adults, vertigo and vestibular disorders are now increasingly being reported among young professionals, gamers, startup employees, doctors, lawyers, IT workers and content creators.
“Young professionals spending prolonged hours on screens are increasingly presenting with symptoms such as motion sensitivity, imbalance, visual dizziness, head heaviness, brain fog and floating sensations,” Dr. Biswas explained.
One major trigger, he says, is prolonged digital exposure, especially when people spend hours scrolling on phones while lying down in bed.
The body’s balance system depends on constant coordination between the inner ear, eyes, brain, muscles, nerves and spine. Excessive screen exposure can disrupt this coordination.
“Excessive screen exposure induces vestibular symptoms through a combination of sensory mismatch, visual overload and neurocognitive fatigue,” Dr. Biswas said.
“When this happens continuously over time, the brain begins receiving conflicting balance signals, resulting in dizziness and disequilibrium.”
Late-night scrolling can worsen the problem further by disturbing sleep quality and the body’s circadian rhythm, both of which are important for neurological recovery and sensory processing.
WHY VERTIGO IS OFTEN IGNORED
Many people dismiss dizziness as weakness, dehydration, stress or cervical pain. But doctors warn that vertigo itself is not a disease, it is a symptom of an underlying problem.
"The underlying disease may arise from the inner ear, the brain, the eyes, the spine, nerves and muscles, the cardiovascular system, or even from the psychic and cognitive systems. Because symptoms overlap with common conditions like stress, anxiety, cervical pain, migraine, fatigue, cardiovascular disorders, many patients spend years visiting multiple specialists without receiving an accurate diagnosis, leave alone a rational and logical treatment. No effective treatment is possible till the correct diagnosis is done," said Dr. Biswas.
THE HIDDEN MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT
Untreated balance disorders can affect far more than physical movement.
Patients develop fear of falling, avoid crowded spaces, stop travelling alone and withdraw socially. In younger adults, persistent dizziness can also reduce work productivity, concentration and emotional wellbeing.
“Most patients gradually lose confidence in moving independently and develop an agonising fear of fall,” Dr. Biswas said.
He also pointed to conditions such as Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD), where dizziness becomes closely linked with emotional and cognitive systems.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR BALANCE SYSTEM
Doctors say lifestyle correction can make a significant difference, especially in early-stage or lifestyle-triggered vestibular dysfunction.
Dr. Biswas recommended:
- Reducing prolonged uninterrupted screen exposure
- Avoiding binge-scrolling in bed
- Taking movement breaks during work
- Maintaining proper neck posture
- Improving sleep quality
- Staying physically active
- Managing stress and anxiety
- Maintaining hydration and regular meals
“People must understand that persistent dizziness is not normal, not ‘just stress,’ and not something they should shove under the carpet,” Dr. Biswas said.
He added that recurring dizziness lasting for weeks or months should always be medically evaluated instead of self-treated.
The good news is that with a correct diagnosis, vestibular physiotherapy, psychological support and scientific treatment, most patients can recover significantly and return to normal life.