When the Donguibogam concept of fire is translated into modern medicine, it corresponds to autonomic nervous system imbalance and the stress response. Our body's autonomic nervous system is divided into sympathetic nerves and parasympathetic nerves, which balance each other to regulate bodily functions. Continuous stress, excessive work, and irregular daily habits overstimulate the sympathetic nerves, keeping the body in a prolonged state of emergency.
When sympathetic nerves are overly activated, the body secretes excessive amounts of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones constrict blood vessels, elevate heart rate, and tense muscles to prepare for the fight-or-flight response. In particular, muscles around the neck, shoulders, and scalp become overly tight, impairing blood circulation. This disrupts the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the head, resulting in tension headache. Pain resembling a tight band around the head or a heavy sensation of pressure is typical.
In addition, chronic stress affects the brain's vascular regulation. Blood vessels may initially constrict excessively and then dilate in a rebound response, irritating surrounding nerves and triggering a throbbing migraine. Imbalances in neurotransmitters such as serotonin or calcitonin gene-related peptide are also known to contribute to these vascular headaches, causing the brain to function much like an overheated engine.
Dizziness follows a similar pattern. Stress and anxiety can disrupt the function of the vestibular system, the balance organ in the inner ear, and impair the brain's ability to integrate visual, vestibular, and somatosensory information, confusing the sense of balance. Moreover, when blood pressure regulation is impaired by autonomic nervous system imbalance, or when chronic hyperventilation occurs, blood flow volume to the brain drops temporarily, leading to dizziness. If these symptoms persist, central sensitization may occur, creating a cycle in which pain is felt more intensely even with minor stimuli. This is why we need to pay close attention to our body's subtle signals.
