The southeastern United States usually has longer summer than North. Traditional Chinese medicine teaches that the summer heat or humidity is an external factor which can cause health problems. Heart attacks are one of the common illnesses, which may occur more frequently in the summer time. The main symptoms are intermittent angina, unusual fatigue in during the day, longer, constant heartburn, tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, and vomiting. A consistent deep and very severe pain in the chest can spread to the left arm, neck, jaw, or the area between the shoulder blades.

Western medicine describes a heart attacks this way: When the amount of blood to the heart is suddenly reduced or cut off, the heart is depleted of oxygen, part of the heart muscle begins to die permanently without restoration of the blood supply immediately. Western medicine states three main conditions that can lead to a heart attack: 1) narrowed arteries caused by years of cholesterol-rich fatty deposits, proteins, calcium and other build up in the arterial walls which obstructs the blood flow to the heart, or forms blood clots which block the coronary artery completely cutting off the blood flow to the heart (if the blood clots block the brain artery completely, stroke occurs.) 2) arrhythmia, a condition in which an abnormal heart beat does not pump enough blood to produce an adequate supply; 3) a weak spot in a blood vessel causing internal bleeding resulting in disrupted blood flow to the heart.

An emotional crisis, a heavy meal, over working/exercise, or heavy lifting, may be a trigger for a heart attack. People who have a family history of heart disease, those who smoke and/or take drugs, have diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol/triglyceride levels, live sedentary life styles, have stress and/or have “type A” personalities are at greater risk. Even though there is a great deal of high quality medical equipment and advanced techniques; a heart attack is still the on the top of the list as a leading cause of death in the USA.

Traditional Chinese medicine teaches us that the spleen can restrain the heart acting like a father and the liver will nurse the heart like a mother and give Chi and blood to the heart. When the weather is extremely hot or humid, it will influence people’s mood and digestion, which can make indigestion and high cholesterol that may cause deposits on the walls of blood vessel resulting in the narrowing of blood vessel and cause blood stagnation to form clots. This can make the liver unbalance and weak and does not transport enough Chi and blood to the heart through blood vessels.

Hot and humid weather also slows down people’s activity levels causing them to avoid even a simple walk outside, which can cause poor blood circulation. In the summer, the sunrise is earlier and the sunset is later than the winter. People may sleep less or not as deeply which deprives the heart of needed rest. In the summer, people often have a busier lifestyle which also results in tiredness of the body and the exhaustion of the heart.

Deep longing, worry and too much thinking also results in a restless heart. Overthinking can cause the spleen function to drop so that it does not monitor the heart, which may lead to an abnormal heart beat. Generally, people eat more raw vegetables to clear away the summer heat. Raw vegetables have more nutrition, but for some people, are hard to digest leading to low energy of the spleen which can stress the heart more. All these are the main roots of causing heart attack.

To prevent a heart attack, begin now to eat healthy, add fresh foods, such as green leafy vegetables, onions, bitter melon, cactus, lotus root, beets, red cabbage, tomatoes, grapes, grapefruit, oranges, tangerines, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, cherries, papaya, watermelon, red wine (depending on individual’s condition), boiled peanuts, sunflower seeds and more. Stop smoking and taking drugs as much as possible, use natural methods for health problems. Exercise at least 3 -5 times a week, 35 - 60 minutes walking is excellent, Tai Chi Qi Gong, Yoga, hiking, biking, climbing stairs, jumping rope, running, swimming, laughing, singing, dancing and other exercises are helpful. Receive acupuncture to release stress and help prevent weight gain, fatigue, indigestion, heartburn, stomach bloating, insomnia/over thinking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression, anxiety, short-temper, unbalanced thyroid gland, or diabetes.

People who have had heart surgery should get acupuncture treatments regularly as a preventative measure. Use acupuncture and psychology with emotional stress. It is better to talk with a professional to release emotional stress because friends may guide you in the wrong direction. An acupuncture session may be considered as a mini-vacation keeping your heart healthy and saving your life.

Contact Li Hua L.Ac. TCMD at Atlanta Acupuncture Center or 404-250-9903 or e-mail lihua@aac2000.com or surf her web site at www.aac2000.com