1 Asthenia syndrome of heart and lung qi
Asthenia syndrome of heart and lung qi refers to the symptoms of palpitation, cough and dyspnea due to simultaneous asthenia of heart and lung qi. This syndrome is usually caused by consumption of pulmonary qi with the involvement of the heart due to cough and dyspnea in chronic disease; or by weakness in the aged or by overstrain.
Clinical manifestations: Palpitation, shortness of breath, chest oppression, weakness in cough, vomiting of thin and clear sputum, dizziness and dispiritedness, timid and low voice, spontaneous sweating and lassitude, aggravation after movement, pale complexion, light-coloured tongue with whitish fur, or light purplish tongue and lips, sinking and weak or knotted pulse and intermittent pulse. Such symptoms are usually seen in chronic and obstructive pulmonary emphysema, chronic and pulmogenic heart disease, congestive heart failure, pericarditis and mitral valve prolapse syndrome.
Analysis of the symptoms: Palpitation is caused by asthenia of heart qi which fails to propel and nourish the heart shortness of breath and chest oppression are caused by asthenia of heart and lung qi which lead to insufficient production of thoracic qi and inhibited flow of qi; weakness in cough is caused by asthenia of pulmonary qi, failure of pulmonary qi to depurate and descend as well as upward adverse flow of qi; vomiting of thin and clear sputum is caused by asthenia of pulmonary qi which fails to distribute body fluid and leads to accumulation of fluid into phlegm; dizziness and dispiritedness, timid and low voice, spontaneous sweating and lassitude are caused by hypoactivity of the body due to asthenia of qi; aggravation after movement is due to consumption of qi; pale complexion, light-coloured tongue with whitish fur, or light purplish tongue and lips, sinking and weak or knotted pulse and intermittent pulse are the signs of asthenia of heart and lung qi which is weak in transporting blood.
Key points for syndrome differentitation. The major manifestations are both palpitation, cough, asthma and symptoms due to qi deficiency and weakened functional activity.
