Module 6: Palpitations Flashcards
Biomed reasons for palpiations
an increase in heart rate, an increase in contractility of the heart,
or irregular heartbeats
Two kinds of palpiations
Fright palpitations: Jing Ji
Continuous palpitations: Zheng Chong
Refers to palpitations that occur when there is a fright. It is usually due to an external
cause. These tend to come and go quickly and don’t cause any other signs and symptoms.
Often patients don’t complain of these or seek treatment for them.
Fright palpitations: Jing Ji
Refers to severe throbbing of the heart, which is often felt from the heart down to the
umbilicus. This can be a further development of fright palpitations and is usually caused from
internal causes. This is induced or aggravated by the same causes, including exertion or
emotional disturbance. Prolonged duration of this condition is severe and requires medical
attention.
Continuous palpitations: Zheng Chong
Palpitations are directly related to the function of
the Heart zang organ.
Continuous palpitations are viewed as resulting from
damage to the heart organ, rather
than simply a functional pathology.
Chronic palpitations are caused by
certain pathogenic factors including blood stasis and phlegm or
when the heart is failing to be supplied by qi, blood, yin or yang
Pathology of Palpitations
Water Blood
Phlegm Qi
Blood Stasis attacks the HT Heart fails to nourish Yin or Yang
palpitations with paroxysmal pain, pain may be stabbing or colicky in nature, radiating
to the left arm:
Blood Stasis
palpitations come and go, induced by anxiety or fright, dizziness and vertigo:
Phlegm
disturbing the Heart
palpitations with sudden onset, induced by fright or panic attack:
emotion (fright)
disturbing the Heart
palpitations with stifling sensation in the chest, shortness of breath, edema in the
lower extremities or face:
water attacking the Heart
palpitations with irritability or fright, insomnia, dizziness, poor memory, blurred
vision, pale face:
Heart blood/yin deficiency
palpitations with shortness of breath, palpitations induced or aggravated by physical
or mental activity:
Heart qi/yang deficiency
Palpitations, dizziness, insomnia, dream disturbed sleep, poor memory, anxiety, propensity to
be startled, dull-pale complexion, pale lips.
Tongue: Pale and Thin
Pulse: Choppy or Fine
Heart Blood Xu
A feeling of stuffiness and discomfort of the chest, dull ache in the chest, very slight shortness
of breath, palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, dizziness, dream-disturbed sleep, poor memory,
propensity to be startled, dull-pale complexion, pale lips, cold hands.
Tongue: Pale, Thin, slightly dry
Pulse: Choppy or Fine but very slightly hard on the left Front position
Pericardium Blood Xu
Palpitations, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, propensity to be startled, poor memory, anxiety,
mental restlessness, ‘uneasiness’, ‘fidgetiness’, dry mouth and throat, night sweating.
Tongue: without coating
Pulse: Floating-Empty
Heart Yin Xu
Palpitations, shortness of breath on exertion, tiredness, spontaneous sweating, a slight feeling
of stuffiness or discomfort in the heart region, feeling of cold, cold hands, bright-pale face,
slightly dark lips,
Tongue: Pale, puffy, wet
Pulse: Deep-Weak
Heart Yang Xu
Palpitations, shortness of breath, weak and shallow breathing, profuse sweating, cold limbs,
cyanosis of lips, greyish-white complexion, in severe cases coma.
Tongue: Very Pale or Bluish
Pulse: Hidden-Minute-Knotted
Heart Yang Collapse
Palpitations, a feeling of tightness and heat of the chest, slight chest ache, rapid breathing,
Thirst, mouth and tongue ulcers, mental restlessness, feeling of agitation, feeling of heat,
insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, red face, bitter taste (after a bad night’s sleep).
Tongue: Red, tip redder and swollen with red points, yellow coating
Pulse: Full-Rapid-Overflowing especially on the left Front position
Pericardium Fire
Palpitations, feeling of oppression and heat of the chest, chest pain, rapid breathing, thirst, red
face, bitter taste, expectoration of phlegm, rattling sound in the throat, mental restlessness.
insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, agitation, incoherent speech, mental confusion, rash
behaviour, tendency to hit or scold people, uncontrolled laughter or crying, shouting, muttering
to oneself, mental depression and dullness, manic behaviour.
Tongue: Red, Swollen with yellow, dry sticky coating, deep Heart crack. The tip may be redder
and swollen with red points
Pulse: Full-Rapid-Slippery or Rapid-Overflowing-Slippery or Rapid-Full-Wiry
Pericardium Phlegm Fire
Palpitations, thirst, mouth and tongue ulcers, mental restlessness, feeling agitated, feeling of
heat, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, red face, dark urine or blood in urine, bitter taste.
Tongue: Red tongue, tip redder and swollen with red points, yellow coating.
Pulse: Full-Rapid-Overflowing pulse
Heart Fire Blazing
Palpitations, thirst, red face, bitter taste, a feeling of oppression of the chest, expectoration
of phlegm, rattling sound in the throat, bitter taste, mental restlessness, insomnia. Dream
disturbed sleep, agitation, incoherent speech, mental confusion, rash behaviour, tendency to
hit or scold people, uncontrolled laughter or crying, shouting, muttering to oneself, mental
depression and dullness, manic behaviour.
Tongue: Red, redder and swollen tip with red points, yellow dry sticky coating, deep Heart
crack
Pulse: Full-Rapid-Slippery or Rapid-Overflowing-Slippery or Rapid-Full-Wiry pulse
Phlegm Fire Harassing the Heart
Water Blood
Phlegm Qi
Blood Stasis attacks the HT Heart fails to nourish Yin or Yang
Causes?
Spirit Disturbance leading to
Palpitations
