Heart Patterns

Question 1

HT Blood Xu signs & symptoms?

Answer 1

Main:
• palps, insomnia, poor memory, dizziness.
Aux:
• difficulty falling asleep, but once asleep tends to stay asleep, & sleep long hrs); fatigue.
Psych:
• anxious, easily startled/frightened, timid
Exam:
• pale lips (smt. dry & cracked), pale & dull complexion
• T: pale (may be curled under or indented at the tip)
• P: thready & rough

Question 2

Heart Yin Xu signs & symptoms?

Answer 2

Main:
• palps, insomnia (d/t excessive dreaming), poor memory
Aux:
• low grade fever, heat sensations (esp. in evening/night), night sweats; dry mouth/throat & lips, 5 star heat.
Psych:
• uneasy, fidgety, restless
Exam:
• thin build, red cheeks/malar flush, lips are cracked (& red)
• T: red (esp. tip), red prickles, thin & narrow, pointed (tip may be misshapen)
• P: thready & rapid

Question 3

Heart Qi Xu signs & symptoms?

Answer 3

Main: 
• palps (rate & rhythm probs) (usu. mild & occasional); fatigue, shortness of breath (esp. on exertion)
Aux: 
• spontaneous perspiration
Psych: 
• indifferent, but prone to panic
Exam:
• pale, but bright complexion
• T: normal to somewhat pale
• P: empty, weak (forceless)

Question 4

Heart Yang Xu signs & symptoms?

Answer 4

Main:
• more severe HT qi xu sx + cold signs/sx
Aux:
• cold sweat, chest oppression (stuffiness, stifling sensation)
Psych:
• severe anxiety & apprehension, panic
Exam:
• pale, but bright complexion, cold extremities (esp. hands)
• T: pale, wet, swollen
• P: deep, weak or knotted (slow & irregular)

Question 5

Heart Yang Collapse signs & symptoms?

Answer 5

Main:
• profuse cold sweat, cyanosis, coma; weak, shallow breathing
P: hidden, minute, knotted

Question 6

Heart Blood Stasis signs & symptoms?

Answer 6

Main:
• palps, chest pain (angina, may radiate to shoulder/arm).
Aux:
• feelings of constriction in the chest, cold hands.
Psych:
• pent up, wrought up
Exam:
• purple lips
• T: purple (dark & contorted sublingual veins)
• P: choppy or knotted (slow & irregular)

Question 7

Phlegm Confuses the Heart Portals / Mind: signs & symptoms?

Answer 7

Main:
• muddled, unclear thinking; stupor, unconsciousness.
Aux:
• garbled speech, gurgling sounds (in throat) (possible retching); aphasia.
Psych:
• withdrawn, confused, muttering to self
Exam:
• drooling/slobbering, more likely to be overweight
• T: flabby w/ thick, sticky/slippery coat
• P: slippery

Question 8

Phlegm & Fire Harass/Agitate the Heart: signs & symptoms?

Answer 8

Main:
• pronounced agitation; bizarre, unpredictable behavior
Aux:
• palps, insomnia (wild dreams), bitter taste
Psych:
• uncontrolled laughter & crying, tendency to lash out at others, ranting
Exam:
• red face, wild expression
• T: red w/ greasy yellow coat; hyper-mobile
• P: full, rapid & slippery

Question 9

Exuberant Heart Fire signs & symptoms?

Answer 9

Main:
• palps & tachycardia, insomnia (may sleep very little), tongue sores, thirst.
Aux:
• feels overheated, bitter taste (usu. only in morning or after poor sleep).
Psych:
• restless, agitated; impulsive, manic behavior
Exam:
• bright red face
• T: long, dry, red, even redder tip (which is also enlarged), red prickles, yellow coat.
• P: rapid, overflowing, may be hasty (rapid & irreg)

Question 10

What do all Heart Patterns have in common?

Answer 10

can/will disturb the shen/mind affecting mental-emotional changes, esp. characterized by physical & mental restlessness (less obvious in xu patterns); typically present with a quivering tongue

Question 11

Key problem areas & symptoms of Heart patterns?

Answer 11

1. Restlessness/Agitation
2. Sleep Disturbances
3. Mental State / Psycho-Emotional
4. Changes of Consciousness
5. Palpitations
6. Chest Pain
7. Circulatory & Vascular Problems
8. Abnormal Sweating
9. Speech Pathology
10. Tongue Problems

Question 12

Primary Xu & Shi Heart patterns?

Answer 12

Xu: HT Qi Xu, HT Yang Xu, HT Blood Xu, HT Yin Xu
Shi: HT Fire Blazing, HT Blood Stasis, Cold-Phlegm Confuses the HT/Mind, Hot-Phlegm Agitates the HT/Mind