Reference no: EM133344311

Assignment:

A 41-year-old female presents with a chief complaint of palpitations. She doesn't recall when this started but feels that she has been aware of recurrent uncomfortable sensations in her chest for years, especially when she feels anxious. She has struggled with intense anxiety her entire life. A week ago, she was at the beach with her young daughter; it was a very hot, dry day. She began to feel really strange and developed intense palpitations. She felt so unwell that she had to call a friend to come get them. Her friend insisted she go to urgent care. Her physician has cleared her for acupuncture but is having her undergo a series of tests. In addition to her palpitations, she describes feeling mentally restless, wakes up every night in a sweat, and feels uncomfortably warm in her chest, palms and soles. Her pulse is floating-empty and fairly rapid; her tongue is red and has no coat; you notice a few red points at the tip of her tongue.

1. Is this patient hot, cold, or both? Which signs and symptoms support this?
2. Is this pattern internal, external, or both? Which signs and symptoms support this?
3. Is this patient excess, deficient or both? Which signs and symptoms support this?
4. Which organ system(s) do you think are involved for this patient?
5. How would you diagnose this patient? (give a zang-fu diagnosis, such as Heart Blood Deficiency)
6. What would your treatment principle be? (this must match your diagnosis)
7. What is one lifestyle recommendation you would make for this patient?
8. Why does this patient's tongue have no coat (explain the pathomechanism)?