Neurological Symptoms: Is Smoking or High Blood Pressure the Cause?

Q: Neurological Symptoms: Is Smoking or High Blood Pressure the Cause?

Hello： It is recommended to reduce smoking and consult a neurologist to check for any vascular diseases.

Experiencing a sensation of heat in the back of the head during winter, inability to lie flat, and starting to feel dizzy after being awake for 16 hours, with the dizziness becoming progressively milder as the night goes on and having no desire to sleep?

I started smoking at the age of 14 and I want to know if my symptoms are caused by lung cancer leading to brain involvement or if they are due to high blood pressure? I suspect I have high blood pressure because I feel uncomfortable when I eat too salty or large amounts of cheese.
Since I was 28, there was a day when I smoked too much and experienced blackouts, followed by a sensation of heat in the back of my head.
After 24 hours without sleep, I began to experience severe dizziness, fever, and nausea, feeling no urge to sleep.
I would get headaches while using my brain and listening to music.
During the worst moments, turning over too quickly would make me dizzy, and I had to turn slowly to avoid feeling like I was spinning.
Now that I sleep more, I haven't had a recurrence of severe dizziness.
Since then, when I lie down, I can hear a pulsing sound in my head, which I wonder if it is the sound of blood vessels.
I suspect I have lung cancer because I meet five characteristics of lung cancer: 1) When I smoke a lot, I experience shortness of breath and a fast heartbeat; even when I haven't smoked and just get up, my heart rate is a bit elevated.
2) I rarely feel chest pain, but I have a few mild stabbing pains and shoulder pain a few times a month, with soreness where the shoulder connects to the neck, and back pain in the spine and shoulders (these symptoms have become milder since I bought an ergonomic chair; previously, I would feel back pain and difficulty getting up after being on a boat).
3) I feel hot; even in cold weather, I need to cover myself with a blanket, and my body temperature is consistently high.
After smoking more than 10 cigarettes, the back of my head feels very hot.
4) When I smoke a lot, I can hear my own wheezing.

Sleeping too little, having an irregular schedule, eating too salty, and smoking too much have made my condition severe.
Later, I bought earplugs, and after sleeping more, my dizziness became very mild, but even now, after six months, it hasn't completely resolved.
The heat in the back of my head was noticed six months before the dizziness; it was winter, yet I was still too hot to sleep, possibly due to smoking too much.
Now that I don't smoke as much, the heat in the back of my head isn't as severe, but even if I don't smoke for a day, I still can't lie down comfortably.
During the Lunar New Year when I returned to Kaohsiung, it was very hot, and even after a day without smoking, I still felt too hot to sleep while lying down.
I managed to fall asleep while lying down before the New Year.

Niming, 20~29 year old female. Ask Date: 2022/12/19

Dr. Cai Zongzhang reply Neurology

Hello: It is recommended to reduce smoking and consult a neurologist to check for any vascular diseases.

Reply Date: 2022/12/19

More Info

Your concerns regarding the symptoms you are experiencing, particularly in relation to smoking and high blood pressure, are quite valid and warrant a thorough understanding of the potential health implications.
Firstly, smoking is a well-documented risk factor for a myriad of health issues, including respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and various forms of cancer, including lung cancer. The symptoms you describe, such as shortness of breath, increased heart rate, and chest pain, can indeed be associated with smoking. Additionally, chronic smoking can lead to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which may explain some of your respiratory symptoms.
Regarding your concerns about high blood pressure, it is important to note that hypertension can lead to significant neurological symptoms. Elevated blood pressure can cause headaches, dizziness, and even more severe complications such as strokes. The symptoms you describe, including the sensation of your head feeling hot and the experience of dizziness or vertigo, could potentially be linked to fluctuations in your blood pressure. If you suspect you have high blood pressure, it is crucial to monitor it regularly and consult a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and management plan.

The interplay between smoking and high blood pressure can exacerbate health issues. Smoking can lead to vascular damage, which may contribute to hypertension. Furthermore, the stress on your cardiovascular system from smoking can lead to increased heart rates and blood pressure spikes, especially when combined with other factors such as high salt intake or lack of sleep.
Your experience of feeling faint or having episodes of dizziness after smoking heavily could also be indicative of nicotine's effects on your body. Nicotine can cause vasoconstriction, which may lead to temporary increases in blood pressure followed by drops, resulting in symptoms like dizziness or fainting. Additionally, the lack of sleep you mentioned can further complicate these symptoms, as sleep deprivation can lead to increased stress on the body and exacerbate feelings of dizziness and fatigue.

It is also worth noting that your symptoms of feeling hot and experiencing a racing heart could be related to anxiety or panic attacks, which can be triggered by both smoking and the physiological effects of high blood pressure. The sensation of hearing your heartbeat or feeling it in your head may be a result of heightened awareness of your bodily sensations, often exacerbated by anxiety.

In conclusion, while smoking and high blood pressure can both contribute to the neurological symptoms you are experiencing, it is essential to approach this situation holistically. It would be beneficial to seek medical advice from a healthcare professional who can perform a comprehensive evaluation, including blood pressure monitoring, potential imaging studies, and possibly referrals to specialists such as a neurologist or cardiologist. Quitting smoking is a significant step towards improving your overall health, and addressing your blood pressure through lifestyle changes, dietary adjustments, and possibly medication can also help alleviate your symptoms. Remember, early intervention is key to preventing more severe health complications in the future.

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