Atrioventricular Block
Atrioventricular (AV) block is an arrhythmia in which the electrical impulse from the atria is delayed or fails to reach the ventricles. Conduction disturbances at any point along the AV conduction pathway (within the atria, AV node, bundle of His and bundle branches, or Purkinje system) can cause AV block. It is classified as first-degree, second-degree, or third-degree AV block.
TCM Pattern Differentiation and Treatment Reference
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Palpitations, chest oppression and a feeling of breathlessness, intermittent chest pain, a dull complexion and bluish lips, darkened nails, and rough, scaly skin. The tongue is purplish and dark or has stasis spots; the pulse is slow, choppy, or intermittently irregular.
In Plain Language:
- You may feel your heart pounding or fluttering.
- Your chest may feel tight, with a sensation of breathlessness or difficulty breathing.
- You may experience intermittent chest pain that comes in episodes.
- Your face may look dull and your lips bluish, with an overall lack of healthy color.
- Your nails may appear dark and lack their usual color.
- Your skin may feel dry and rough, with a scaly texture.
- Your tongue may appear purplish or dark, sometimes with purple spots or patches.
- On examination, the pulse may be slow or choppy, or have irregular pauses.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Invigorate blood and resolve stasis; regulate qi and unblock the channels.
In Plain Language:
- By promoting blood circulation, resolving stasis, and regulating qi, this approach aims to ease discomfort associated with stagnation, such as fixed, stabbing pain, distension in the chest and flanks, and numbness or coldness in the limbs.
- By regulating qi and blood and promoting circulation through the channels and vessels, this approach aims to ease feelings of fullness or blockage and gradually relieve pain and stiffness, helping movement feel easier.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Palpitations and shortness of breath, a feeling of fullness in the chest and epigastrium, poor appetite, nausea or retching, expectoration of phlegm or saliva, and sometimes restlessness with palpitations and a heavy sensation in the head and body. The tongue is pale with a white, greasy coating; the pulse is slow and slippery.
In Plain Language:
- You may feel palpitations or an irregular heartbeat, along with shortness of breath.
- Your chest and upper abdomen may feel full, tight, or uncomfortable.
- Your appetite may be noticeably reduced, and you may have little interest in food.
- You may feel nauseated or sometimes feel as though you might vomit.
- You may repeatedly bring up or spit out phlegm or saliva, leaving your mouth feeling sticky or unpleasant.
- You may also experience palpitations and restlessness, with persistent unease or nervousness.
- Your head and body may feel heavy and tired, as if weighed down.
- Your tongue may look pale, with less of a healthy red color.
- The tongue coating may be white and greasy, appearing moist or sticky.
- On examination, the pulse may be slow and slippery, with a smooth, rolling quality.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Regulate qi and transform phlegm; clear the Gallbladder and harmonize the Stomach.
In Plain Language:
- By regulating qi and addressing phlegm-dampness, this approach aims to gradually ease discomfort such as distension in the chest and flanks, fullness in the chest and upper abdomen, excess phlegm, and a heavy feeling in the head.
- By clearing and harmonizing the Gallbladder and Stomach, this approach aims to ease a bitter taste in the mouth, distension in the flanks, nausea, acid regurgitation, belching, and poor appetite, helping the upper abdomen feel more comfortable.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Palpitations and restlessness, chest oppression, shortness of breath and fatigue, intermittent chest pain, a lusterless complexion, and sometimes bluish-purple lips and nails and rough, scaly skin. The tongue is purplish and dark with stasis spots; the pulse is slow and choppy or intermittently irregular.
In Plain Language:
- You may feel your heart pounding or fluttering, with a persistent sense of unease.
- Your chest may feel tight or uncomfortable, and breathing may feel restricted.
- Your breathing may be short, and you may become easily winded and noticeably tired.
- You may experience intermittent chest pain that comes in episodes.
- Your complexion may look dull and lack its usual color.
- Your lips and nails may appear bluish or purplish.
- Your skin may feel dry and rough, with a scaly texture.
- Your tongue may look purplish or dark, sometimes with purple spots.
- On examination, the pulse may be slow and choppy, or have irregular pauses.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Tonify qi, invigorate blood, and unblock the channels.
In Plain Language:
- By supporting vital qi and improving stamina, this approach aims to gradually ease shortness of breath, fatigue, reluctance to speak, and low energy.
- By promoting blood circulation, resolving stagnation, and unblocking the channels and vessels, this approach aims to gradually ease discomfort associated with blood stasis, such as stabbing pain, numbness, distending pain, stiffness, and coldness in the limbs.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Palpitations and chest oppression that worsen with exposure to cold, aversion to cold, fatigue and reluctance to speak, a pale complexion, spontaneous sweating, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, coldness in the lower back, coldness of the body and limbs (especially the lower limbs), and difficulty urinating or clear, copious urine. The tongue is pale and swollen, with teeth marks and a thin white coating; the pulse is deep and thready or faint.
In Plain Language:
- You may feel palpitations or an unsettled heartbeat, with a persistent sense of unease.
- Your chest may feel tight or uncomfortable, and breathing may feel restricted.
- The symptoms above may become noticeably worse in cold conditions.
- You may feel cold easily and prefer to stay in a warm environment.
- You may feel tired and weak and have little desire to talk.
- Your complexion may look very pale and lack a healthy color.
- You may sweat without exertion, and even slight activity may make the sweating more noticeable.
- Your lower back and knees may often feel sore and weak.
- Your lower back may feel cold or uncomfortable in the cold.
- You may feel cold throughout your body, with cold hands and feet.
- Coldness and discomfort may be more pronounced in the lower limbs than in the upper body.
- You may have difficulty urinating, or pass clear, pale urine in larger amounts over a longer period.
- Your tongue may appear pale and somewhat swollen.
- Impressions of the teeth may be visible along the edges of the tongue.
- The tongue coating may be thin and white rather than thick.
- On examination, the pulse may feel deep and thready or very faint.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Warm and tonify the Heart and Kidneys.
In Plain Language:
- By warming and supporting Heart and Kidney yang and promoting their functions, this approach aims to gradually ease aversion to cold, cold hands and feet, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, and fatigue.
- By harmonizing the Heart and Kidneys, calming the mind, and supporting qi and blood, this approach aims to ease palpitations and restlessness, as well as insomnia and vivid dreams; chest tightness, shortness of breath, and frequent nighttime urination may also gradually improve.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Chest oppression and shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness, insomnia and fatigue, dry mouth and thirst, night sweats and a sensation of heat and agitation, and in severe cases fainting. The tongue is red with little coating; the pulse is slow, thready, and weak, sometimes slightly rapid.
In Plain Language:
- Your chest may feel tight, and your breathing may become short, as though you cannot get enough air.
- You may feel palpitations or an unsettled heartbeat, sometimes with a sudden sense of alarm.
- You may feel dizzy or light-headed, as if your vision is spinning or unsteady.
- You may have trouble falling or staying asleep and feel tired and weak during the day.
- Your mouth may feel dry, and you may feel an increased need to drink water.
- You may sweat during the night and feel internally hot, restless, or unsettled.
- In severe cases, fainting may occur, with a brief loss of consciousness.
- Your tongue may look red, with very little coating or almost none.
- On examination, the pulse may be slow, thready, and weak, and may occasionally be slightly rapid.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Tonify qi, nourish yin, and unblock the channels.
In Plain Language:
- By supporting vital qi and nourishing body fluids, this approach aims to improve energy and gradually ease dry mouth and throat, hot flashes, night sweats, and feeling easily overheated or irritable.
- By unblocking the channels and coordinating the movement of qi and blood, this approach aims to promote circulation and gradually ease discomfort such as numbness, stabbing pain, tightness, soreness, and restricted movement.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
References
- Chen Haozhu, Lin Guowei, Wang Jiyao. Practical Internal Medicine (14th ed.) [M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 2013: 1396.
- Lu Zaiying, Zhong Nanshan. Internal Medicine (7th ed.) [M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 2013: 212.
- Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission. Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China [M]. China Medical Science Press, 2015, (1): 438–1633.