Vertigo is the feeling that you or everything around you is spinning, strong enough to affect your balance, and it is more than just feeling dizzy (pening kepala). It is most often caused by an inner ear problem, such as BPPV, labyrinthitis after a cold or flu, or Meniere's disease, and sometimes by migraine or medicines. Most vertigo gets better without treatment. Lying still in a quiet, dark room and moving your head slowly can help during an attack, and a doctor or physiotherapist can treat BPPV with a head-movement technique called the Epley manoeuvre. Get emergency help if vertigo comes with double vision, hearing loss, trouble speaking, or weakness or numbness in an arm or leg.
Vertigo maksud: what is vertigo?
According to the NHS, vertigo feels like you or everything around you is spinning, enough to affect your balance. It is more than just feeling dizzy. In Malay it is often described as pening kepala berpusing.
- A vertigo attack can last from a few seconds to hours.
- Severe vertigo can last for many days or months.
- Vertigo often gets better without treatment, but see a doctor if it keeps coming back or affects your daily life.
Pening kepala: what are the types of dizziness?
Pening kepala is a general word that covers different feelings. According to the NHS, dizziness includes feeling off-balance, giddy, lightheaded or faint, or like you or things around you are spinning (vertigo). The type of dizziness can give clues about the cause:
| What you notice | Possible cause |
|---|---|
| Dizzy when you stand or sit up suddenly | A sudden drop in blood pressure (postural hypotension) |
| Off-balance, some hearing loss, ringing in the ears | Inner ear problems |
| Spinning and feeling sick, sometimes after a cold or flu | Labyrinthitis |
| Dizzy after starting a new medicine | A side effect of the medicine |
Dizziness can also happen when you are ill with something else, and often goes away once that is treated. Examples include an ear infection, migraine, dehydration or heat exhaustion, stress or anxiety, low blood sugar in people with diabetes, and iron deficiency anaemia. See our guides to migrain, kurang darah and blood pressure, which includes low blood pressure. Do not try to diagnose yourself; see a doctor if you are worried.
Punca vertigo: what causes vertigo?
According to the NHS, inner ear problems, which affect balance, are the most common causes of vertigo. These include:
- benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), where specific head movements cause vertigo;
- labyrinthitis, an inner ear infection caused by a cold or flu virus;
- vestibular neuritis, inflammation of the nerve that carries balance signals;
- Meniere's disease, a rare inner ear condition that sometimes involves ringing in the ear (tinnitus) or hearing loss.
Other causes include migraine and some medicines; check the leaflet to see if vertigo is listed as a side effect. Sometimes the cause is unknown.
Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis can cause sudden dizziness or vertigo, feeling unsteady, and feeling or being sick. Labyrinthitis can also cause hearing loss and ringing in the ears; vestibular neuritis does not. Symptoms often ease after a few days, and most people get their balance back over 2 to 6 weeks, although it can take longer. These often follow a cold or flu; see our guide to selsema.
BPPV: vertigo when you move your head
BPPV is a common inner ear cause of vertigo in which specific head movements trigger attacks of spinning. To check for it, a doctor may do a simple test where you move quickly from sitting to lying down; this may bring on symptoms.
The Epley manoeuvre. BPPV can be treated with a series of head and body movements called the Epley manoeuvre, done by a trained doctor or physiotherapist. A 2014 Cochrane review of 11 trials with 745 adults found that:
- vertigo completely resolved in 56% of people after the Epley manoeuvre, compared with 21% after a sham manoeuvre or no treatment;
- there were no serious side effects, although 17% to 32% of people felt sick during the manoeuvre;
- some people could not have it because of neck problems.
Do not try the manoeuvre without first getting a diagnosis, as other conditions can cause similar symptoms.
Cara hilangkan pening kepala berpusing: what helps?
The NHS suggests these steps to ease vertigo when it happens and reduce how often it happens:
Do:
- lie still in a quiet, dark room to reduce the spinning feeling;
- sit down straight away when you feel dizzy;
- move your head carefully and slowly during daily activities;
- get out of bed slowly and sit on the edge of the bed for a while before standing up;
- sleep with your head slightly raised on 2 or more pillows;
- turn on the lights if you get up at night, and use a walking stick if you are at risk of falling;
- try to relax, as anxiety can make vertigo worse;
- drink plenty of water, especially if you are being sick, and get plenty of rest.
Don't:
- bend over to pick things up; squat to lower yourself instead;
- stretch your neck, for example to reach a high shelf;
- drive, climb a ladder or use heavy machinery while you feel dizzy;
- have coffee, cigarettes or alcohol while dizzy.
Ubat vertigo: how is vertigo treated?
Most people with vertigo get better without treatment. According to the NHS, treatment depends on the cause:
- antibiotics if vertigo is caused by a bacterial infection;
- balance exercises to help retrain your balance;
- antihistamines, which can sometimes help with symptoms;
- the Epley manoeuvre for BPPV (see above).
A doctor will ask about your symptoms and may refer you to a specialist, such as an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor, for further tests. If you drive, check whether your vertigo affects your ability to drive safely and ask your doctor.
See a doctor if vertigo or dizziness will not go away or keeps coming back, you are finding it harder to hear, you have ringing in your ears, you have changes in your eyesight, or you faint, collapse or have headaches with it.
When is vertigo or dizziness an emergency?
Go to the emergency department, according to the NHS, if you have vertigo and:
- double vision or loss of vision;
- hearing loss;
- trouble speaking;
- weakness, numbness or tingling in an arm or leg.
These can be signs of a serious problem that needs treatment straight away. Always take someone who cannot be woken up to the emergency department.
Get urgent medical advice if you have vertigo and a severe headache, are being sick or feel very sick, or have a very high temperature or feel hot, cold or shivery.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What does vertigo mean (vertigo maksud)?
Vertigo is a feeling that you, or everything around you, is spinning, strong enough to affect your balance. It is more than just feeling dizzy. A vertigo attack can last from a few seconds to hours, and severe vertigo can last for days or months. In Malay it is often described as pening kepala berpusing.
What is the difference between vertigo and pening kepala?
Pening kepala is a general word for dizziness, which can mean feeling lightheaded, faint, giddy or off-balance. Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness where you feel that you or the room is spinning. Lightheadedness is often linked to standing up quickly, dehydration or low blood sugar, while vertigo is most often caused by an inner ear problem.
What causes vertigo (punca vertigo)?
Inner ear problems are the most common cause of vertigo. These include benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), where certain head movements trigger vertigo; labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis, usually after a cold or flu; and Meniere's disease. Migraine and some medicines can also cause vertigo, and sometimes the cause is unknown.
How do I stop vertigo fast (cara hilangkan pening kepala berpusing)?
Lie still in a quiet, dark room, sit down straight away when you feel dizzy, and move your head slowly. Get out of bed slowly and sit on the edge before standing. Do not bend over or stretch your neck to reach high shelves. Most vertigo gets better without treatment, but see a doctor if it keeps coming back.
What is the Epley manoeuvre?
The Epley manoeuvre is a series of head and body movements done by a trained doctor or physiotherapist to treat BPPV. A Cochrane review of 11 trials found that it resolved vertigo in more people than a sham manoeuvre or no treatment (56% compared with 21%), with no serious side effects, although some people feel sick during it.
Is there medicine for vertigo (ubat vertigo)?
Most people with vertigo get better without treatment. Depending on the cause, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics for an infection, give balance exercises, or suggest antihistamines, which can sometimes help with symptoms. The right treatment depends on what is causing your vertigo, so see a doctor if it does not go away.
When is vertigo an emergency?
Go to the emergency department if you have vertigo with double vision or loss of vision, hearing loss, trouble speaking, or weakness, numbness or tingling in an arm or leg. Get urgent advice if you have vertigo with a severe headache, are being sick, or have a very high temperature.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor, physiotherapist or pharmacist. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
References
- Vertigo — NHS
- Dizziness — NHS
- Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis — NHS
- Meniere's disease — NHS
- Hilton MP, Pinder DK. The Epley (canalith repositioning) manoeuvre for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(12):CD003162.
