Coronary heart disease is a very ancient disease, and as early as in the body of Xin Chou, the mistress of the Mawangdui excavation in Changsha, it was determined through examination that this person, who lived more than 2,000 years ago, already suffered from coronary heart disease. After analysis, the cause of Xin chun’s death was due to gallstones causing biliary angina and thus inducing angina, which led to her sudden death. As a noble marquess, Xin chun had rich living conditions at that time, and was very particular about food and drink, and loved to eat melons, so it is presumed that Xin chun suffered from coronary heart disease and her eating habits were inseparable.
So, what is coronary heart disease?
Coronary heart disease is actually short for coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, which is a disease caused by atherosclerosis of the blood vessels supplying blood to the heart (called coronary arteries), causing blockage of the blood vessels, which is commonly known as the aging of the blood vessels, resulting in ischemia and lack of oxygen to the heart muscle and causing symptoms such as suffocation, stuffiness and pain in the chest. Coronary heart disease is a kind of heart disease, which is also called ischemic heart disease because it is caused by acute temporary and chronic persistent ischemia and hypoxia of the myocardium due to the lesion of heart vessels.
The occurrence of coronary heart disease is closely related to the disorder of lipid metabolism, especially the increase of low-density lipoprotein and the decrease of high-density lipoprotein. In addition, hypertension, long-term smoking, diabetes, obesity, heredity, type A personality, increased blood uric acid and certain endocrine diseases such as diabetes are also common predisposing factors.
Coronary heart disease occurs mostly after the age of 40, more in men than in women, and more in brain workers. However, with the development of society, the improvement of living standards, the increase of social pressure and bad habits, in recent years, the trend of younger onset of coronary heart disease is becoming more and more obvious, more and more people in their thirties and forties suffer from coronary heart disease, in 2013 because the youngest of the patients who died of acute myocardial infarction in Beijing was only in their twenties, so the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease is no longer the elderly “patent” anymore.
The most common symptom of coronary heart disease is angina pectoris, and typical angina pectoris has the following characteristics.
1, pain location: angina pectoris with episodic chest pain as the main manifestation: in the upper and middle part of the sternal body after, can spread to the precordial area, there is the most typical range of palm size; can radiate to the left inner arm, left hand or back, occasionally radiating to the jaw, pharynx, upper abdomen.
2. nature of pain: mostly pressure-like, suffocating, constricting pain, some may have a burning sensation.
3. the duration is usually 1 minute – 10 minutes, with a maximum of 30 minutes.
4. Triggering factors: physical activity, emotional excitement, cold, smoking, fever and tachycardia can cause attacks.
5. Relief: Generally, removal of triggers, rest, and the inclusion of emergency medication can provide relief within a few minutes.
If your symptoms meet the above 5 typical characteristics, then you can basically determine that you may have suffered from coronary heart disease, angina and need to go to the hospital for examination and treatment as soon as possible.
So is it true that if you don’t have the above 5 typical characteristics, you don’t have coronary angina?
No, there are many patients with coronary heart disease who do not have the above 5 typical characteristics, but because they have coronary heart disease, although they do not have all these symptoms, they still have the same great risk.
If you have coronary heart disease, even if you don’t have all of the above 5 typical characteristics, there are always some signs to remind us and warn us in our daily life. If we don’t understand and ignore these reminders or warnings, once an acute attack occurs, the condition may be very serious, and even sudden death may occur suddenly and endanger your life.
So, what are the symptoms or signs that we should be alerted to coronary heart disease?
When we appear in our daily life, one or more of the following situations, it may be a “signal” or “warning” of coronary heart disease, we should be vigilant.
1.Recent repeated occurrences of chest and back tightness, heaviness or shortness of breath.
2. Paroxysmal dyspnea, shortness of breath, inability to lie down, coughing, coughing white sticky sputum or pink foamy sputum.
3.Sudden onset of panic, nausea, pale face, cold sweat, and chilled limbs.
4.An indefinable feeling of discomfort appears when you are tired or emotionally agitated, which will be relieved after rest or emotional calm.
5.Unexplained toothache, especially when it comes in bursts, and it is not possible to tell which tooth the pain point is, but the tooth is intact at the time of examination, and there is no sign of inflammation. Most of the pains come on when you are tired or stressed, and will be relieved after rest or emotional calm.
6, paroxysmal shoulder and back pain, mostly seen on the left side, can also run to the left arm and the fingers on the inner side of the left palm, paroxysmal, can be relieved in a few minutes or so, not affected by the climate, should not be mistaken for arthritis.
7.Recurrent stomach pain, mainly in the stomach and epigastric region or upper abdomen, may also have a burning sensation, but gastroenteritis, gastritis, etc. are ruled out.
8. Sudden unexplained dizziness or syncope.
When these symptoms are not clear, they may be the “signal” of coronary heart disease, should be vigilant and seek medical attention in time to prevent accidents. Especially in the winter and spring when the weather is cold, these symptoms should be thought of is not suffering from coronary heart disease, because coronary heart disease has one of the most serious and fatal conditions – myocardial infarction, which can cause sudden death within a short period of time.
What does TCM know about coronary heart disease? Is there a good way to treat coronary heart disease in Chinese medicine?
Coronary heart disease is a very old disease, our ancient people have a very in-depth understanding of this disease, in the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine there are descriptions of “heart pain”, such as “heart disease, pain in the chest” and ” Heart pain is very serious, once it occurs, it will die in the evening.
After more than 2000 years of development, Chinese medicine has accumulated rich clinical experience in treating coronary heart disease and angina pectoris. These methods and formulas accumulated by the ancients are still widely used in today’s clinical practice with remarkable efficacy, such as Guahuabai Hexaxia Tang, Haifu Bangyu Tang, Suhexiang Wan and other formulas.
According to Chinese medicine, the basic pathogenesis of angina pectoris in coronary artery disease is deficiency of the root and the symptoms are real. The following is a classic formula to activate blood circulation and remove blood stasis for friends with coronary heart disease.
Tao Hong Si Wu Tang
Effects: Promoting Blood circulation, resolving blood stasis, nourishing the blood and relieving pain.
Peach kernel 10g, safflower 10g, angelica 15g, red peony 15g, raw earth 12g, chuanxiong 12g
Addition and reduction.
1, combined with manifestations of Qi deficiency, shortness of breath, weakness, add Astragalus 20-30g.
2. For heart pain, add Yanhuosuo 9g and
Myrrh 8g.
3.Add cinnamon 3g for coldness and cold limbs
12g of bone fructus
4, phlegm is very thick, add 12g of thick park and 10g of bamboo.
5, in case of kidney deficiency, add Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum 15g, Fructus Lycii 12g
6. For dry stool, add 20-30g of Psidium guajava.
Note: If the disease is complicated, it is recommended to take the drug after consultation at a regular hospital to avoid delay.