Patient's question:
23 years old, previously in good health.Current condition:
1. Often feels nauseous and vomits acid water; has had for 18 years.
2. Cannot control urination when vomiting.
3. Occasionally feels short of breath and struggles to catch one's breath.
Doctor's answer:
The main reason is due to insufficient qi and spleen deficiency, which leads to inadequate blood supply to the heart. When the heart cannot receive proper nourishment, it results in poor rest, causing frequent awakenings at night. Insufficient qi also impairs blood circulation and causes qi stagnation. During exercise, blood circulation improves, but without exercise, it becomes worse. This explains why your sister can walk normally but feels chest tightness upon sitting down. While emotional distress can also cause chest tightness, it does not typically lead to frequent nighttime awakenings. Based on your sister's condition, it is likely caused by insufficient qi and qi stagnation. Treatment should focus on strengthening the spleen, replenishing qi, raising yang, and lifting the sinking. You can take Gui Pi Tang (Spleen Tonifying Decoction) with Salvia miltiorrhiza root (Danshen) and Fructus Citri sarcodactylis (Chuanfuwu) for treatment, or Gui Pi Wan (Spleen Tonifying Pills) and pure Salvia miltiorrhiza root tablets. In terms of diet, consuming more foods that strengthen the spleen and replenish qi can help alleviate her occasional chest tightness and nighttime awakenings. Of course, it's also recommended to have an electrocardiogram (ECG) done at the hospital for peace of mind. If there are no issues with the heart, it will provide further reassurance.