What symptoms is this related to?

Pulsating, sweating, dizziness, changes in digestion, and changes in perceived body temperature may occur together. However, thyroid issues, anemia, medication, and heart problems can also cause similar symptoms.

Can I perform a self-diagnosis?

It is difficult to diagnose based on a list of symptoms alone. The onset time, medications currently being taken, and necessary test results must be evaluated together.

Why can feelings of heat and cold occur at the same time?

The autonomic nervous system is involved in the constriction and dilation of skin blood vessels, sweat secretion, and changes in heart rate. If these responses are unstable, you may experience conflicting temperature sensations, such as your face feeling flushed while your hands and feet are cold, or repeated sweating and burning sensations even when your body temperature is normal.

What should I record for my medical evaluation?

Please record the posture and situation when symptoms begin, whether pulsating, dizziness, and sweating occur together, and how they change after meals and sleep. If fainting, chest pain, or severe shortness of breath accompany these symptoms, do not dismiss them as autonomic nervous system issues; you must first be evaluated at a medical institution.

The term 'autonomic nervous system' alone cannot determine the cause

The autonomic nervous system is the system that regulates heart rate, blood pressure, sweat, body temperature, digestion, and bladder function without conscious control. Because it is involved in various functions, a single symptom such as pulsating or sweating is not enough to conclude that the "autonomic nervous system is damaged."

Commonly confused terms and their differences: Autonomic nervous system disorders are a medical category with diverse causes and affected areas; the term 'autonomic imbalance' used in daily conversation may not be an accurate diagnostic name. Causes that create similar symptoms, such as anemia, thyroid or heart problems, medication, and dehydration, are checked first, followed by functional tests if necessary.
Information to record before your visit: Record whether you feel dizzy when standing up from a lying position, how your pulse and blood pressure change at that time, and whether pulsating, sweating, or abdominal discomfort occurs after meals. Recording changes in medication, fluid intake, and any occurrences of fainting since the symptoms began helps determine which functions need to be tested.
Scope of this material: MedlinePlus materials were used to explain the functions regulated by the autonomic nervous system and the scope of autonomic nervous system tests. This terminology alone is not used to diagnose a disease or determine the efficacy of Korean medicine treatment; fainting, chest pain, shortness of breath, or new paralysis require immediate medical evaluation.

Official References

Medical staff who wrote and reviewed this article

Choi Yeon-seung

Chief Director of Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic

The meaning of the autonomic nervous system, the scope of differential diagnosis, and patient guidance expressions have been reviewed. The last review date was August 25, 2026.

Graduated from Kyung Hee University College of Korean Medicine
Providing Korean medicine treatment since 2010
Symptom treatment from the perspective of heat-cold balance and constitution

Check medical evaluation criteria for my symptoms View full profile

Check the guides where these terms are used

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Symptom and Disease GuideHyperhidrosis

Heat and Cold ColumnCauses of facial flushing: How to distinguish between thyroid issues, menopause, medication, and heat-cold imbalance?

We categorize the causes of facial flushing into thyroid issues, menopause, medication, skin reactions, and heat-cold imbalance, and explain how the direction of herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment varies by cause.

Heat and Cold ColumnI sweat every night and feel heat in my body; what are the causes of night sweats?

We provide guidance on the Korean medicine perspective on the causes of night sweats and heat rising to the hands, feet, or face despite normal test results, as well as criteria for self-assessment.

Medical GuideWhat should I check if tests are normal but sensations of heat and cold persist?

Just because a cause was not found in a test does not mean the symptoms the patient feels do not exist. The Baekrokdam Heat-Cold Clinic respects existing results while examining details not captured in test reports, such as location, timing, sleep, sweat, and digestion, categorizing them by heat-cold patterns to find points where Korean medicine treatment can help.

Medical GuideWhat should I record before a consultation for heat or cold sensations?

Even if the cause was not revealed in tests, you can describe your discomfort in detail. By noting the onset time, location, times when symptoms worsen, and changes in sweating, numbness, dry mouth, or sleep, and by preparing previous test results and medications, we can more accurately examine the patterns of heat and cold and the direction of Korean medicine treatment.

Comparison of similar terms

Medical TerminologyDifferential Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis is the process of distinguishing possible causes one by one through examination, testing, and monitoring progress, rather than determining a disease name based on a single symptom. This is the first and most necessary step for both sensations of heat and cold.

Medical TerminologyCold-Heat Pattern Identification

Pattern identification (Byeon-jeung) is the process of examining the location and timing of heat or cold sensations, as well as accompanying patterns such as sleep, digestion, and sweating, through medical interviews and physical examinations. It is not a substitute for medical tests or diagnoses.