Cardiopulmonary disease and lupus

CHAPTER 4 Cardiopulmonary disease and lupus



The heart and lungs are frequently affected in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Complications in these organs can cause a variety of problems, ranging from mild to serious or even life threatening. These complications are known as cardiopulmonary disease.



1 Western medical aetiology and pathology




(2) Pulmonary involvement


The lungs are often involved in SLE. This is usually due to disordered immunity impairing a single or multiple tissues of the lungs, which includes the pleura, lung tissues and blood vessels in the lungs.










2 Diagnosis by Western medicine





3 Chinese medicine aetiology and pathology


Based on cardiopulmonary symptoms, Chinese medicine may diagnose Xin Ji image, palpitations, Xiong Bi image, an obstructive feeling in the chest, or Zhen Xin Tong image, angina pectoris.


In Chinese medicine, the Heart and Lung reside in the Upper Jiao. The function of the Heart is to govern Blood circulation in the body. The Heart is linked with the blood vessels to form a closed system. Its contractions continuously pump the Blood smoothly within the vessels to nourish itself and other organs. When external pathogenic factors invade the body, or improper foods or emotions affect Heart function, the body’s first reaction is that vital Qi will be in conflict with the pathological factor, leading to Heat symptoms and improper Heart function. In such a case, the Heart may become disordered and symptoms will occur. The Lung is the organ that governs respiration and metabolism of body fluid. The Heart governs Blood, and the Lung governs Qi. The Heart and Lung depend on each other for coexistence. We say that Qi moves the Blood and that Blood is the mother of Qi. Blood circulation relies on Qi to drive it; Qi needs Blood circulation to perform its function of transportation and distribution. Anything that disturbs the normal relationship between the Heart and Lung leads to Qi stagnation, and Qi will not drive the Blood to flow smoothly in the vessels. Slowly moving Blood can become stasis due to this Qi stagnation. Excess Heat builds up based on long-term stagnation of either Qi or Blood. Eventually, chronic illness will damage Yin of the Heart and Lung. Therefore, the pathologies in this process of disease are mainly Heat, Blood stasis and Yin deficiency.




Differentiation and treatment




2 Blood stasis in the blood vessels of the heart







Jan 19, 2017 | Posted by in MUSCULOSKELETAL MEDICINE | Comments Off on Cardiopulmonary disease and lupus

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