Hypertension and hypotension due to baroreceptors dysfunction: A physician personal experience as a head and neck cancer patient

Abstract

Radiation to the head and neck can damage the baroreceptors located in the carotid artery. These baroreceptors help in regulating blood pressure by detecting the pressure of blood flowing through them, and sending messages to the central nervous system to increase or decrease the peripheral vascular resistance and cardiac output. Some individual treated with radiation develop low, labile or paroxysmal hypertension. This manuscript describes my personal experiences as well as other head and neck cancer survivors who received radiation therapy and experienced baroreceptor dysfunction. These personal testimonials highlight the need to educate clinicians about the diagnosis and treatment of vestibular dysfunction including paroxysmal hypertension.