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Is it hard to breathe and does your heart race only when you go to work? Could it be because of 'this'?

Have you ever experienced your heart racing and finding it difficult to breathe as soon as you open the office door, get on the subway for your commute, or sit in a meeting room? Many people initially dismiss these symptoms as just "being very stressed." However, as these symptoms repeat, anxiety grows, and eventually, going to work becomes a fearful and painful task. It feels like a warning light has turned on inside your body, but it's even more frustrating when hospital tests come back saying "nothing is wrong."

💡 [Key Answer] 3 most common causes of feeling breathless and having heart palpitations at work: ① Autonomic nervous system imbalance caused by excessive stress ② Hypersensitivity of the brain's anxiety system ③ Chronic fatigue and decreased qi and blood circulation Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic provides treatment that restores the harmony of body and mind by recovering the balance of the autonomic nervous system, which is the fundamental cause of these symptoms.

Even when working in the same environment, some people experience specific symptoms more severely. The symptom of feeling breathless and having heart palpitations only when going to work is often caused by an overactive 'autonomic nervous system' rather than just a reaction to stress. The autonomic nervous system is an important system that regulates essential life functions such as heart rate, breathing, digestion, and body temperature regardless of our will. When it loses balance, various physical symptoms appear.

Especially in high-stress situations, the body overactivates the sympathetic nervous system to cope with external threats. Racing heart, rising blood pressure, and shortness of breath are the results of this sympathetic nervous system action. The problem is that if this state of tension persists, the parasympathetic nervous system fails to function properly, reducing the body's ability to relax and recover. This makes the brain's anxiety system more sensitive, making it easier to feel panic-like symptoms or anxiety at even small stimuli. Songdo Autonomic Korean Medicine Clinic views this autonomic imbalance as an important target for treatment.

In Korean medicine, these symptoms are categorized as 'Gyeonggye (驚悸)' or 'Jeongchung (怔忡)', and they are understood as comprehensive problems of the heart, brain, and overall qi and blood circulation, not just a heart problem. Stress weakening the heart, energy being stagnant, or chronic fatigue reducing the body's recovery power are seen as major causes. Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic closely analyzes the patient's constitution and symptom type to provide customized treatment.

In fact, there are research results showing that Korean medicine treatment has a meaningful effect on these anxiety symptoms. In the Yang study introduced in the Korean Medicine Convergence Research Information Center in 2016, 163 patients were treated with herbal medicine (Ansinjeongjihwan) for 4 weeks, and there was a significant improvement in the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) scores compared to the control group. Especially, no side effects such as dry mouth or constipation were observed in the herbal medicine treatment group, proving its safety.

Also, a study by Director Noh Young-beom of Bucheon Korean Medicine Clinic, published in the 'Journal of Shanghan and Geumgwe Medicine' in 2012, reported cases of administering 'Yeonggyegamjotang' to two panic disorder patients with extreme anxiety (BAI score of 31 or higher). Among them, a patient with a BAI of 36 showed improvement in heart palpitations and anxiety within 15 days of treatment, and after two months, the panic symptoms completely disappeared. these studies suggest that Korean medicine treatment can be an effective alternative for improving anxiety and physical symptoms caused by autonomic nervous system imbalance.

If 3 or more of the following apply, your autonomic nervous system may be sending a danger signal.

• I feel heart palpitations and stuffiness for no reason only when I go to work.
• It's hard to breathe, or I find myself sighing frequently.
• I feel frequent headaches or dizziness.
• The quality of sleep is poor, such as difficulty falling asleep or waking up frequently at night.
• My hands and feet are cold, my body swells frequently, and I sweat a lot.
• Digestion is poor, the stomach feels bloated, and constipation or diarrhea repeats.
• I feel tired and lethargic for no particular reason.
• The neck or shoulders are frequently stiff, and I get muscle cramps often.
• I become sensitive and easily annoyed at small things, or have severe mood swings.
• Symptoms ease when I get home, but I feel anxious just thinking about going to work.

Judgment Criteria:

• 3 or more: Autonomic imbalance is suspected, so consider lifestyle improvements and professional consultation.
• 5 or more: High possibility of autonomic dysfunction. It's recommended to consider active combined Korean medicine treatment and consult with a Songdo Autonomic Korean Medicine Clinic specialist.
• 7 or more: High possibility of experiencing great discomfort in daily life. Immediate visit is recommended.

Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic uses 'autonomic stabilization' as a core treatment principle to solve the root cause of breathlessness and racing heart at work. When the balance of the autonomic nervous system is broken, the brain cannot rest and stays in a state of tension. We often explain this like an overheated computer processor. Cooling down the heat of the brain and nervous system, stabilizing the overactive sympathetic nervous system, and strengthening the parasympathetic nervous system function to create an environment where the brain can rest — in Korean medicine, this is called 'Suseunghwagang (水昇火降)' — is important.

Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic Songdo Branch objectively grasps the patient's current state through precise pulse wave and autonomic nerve tests, and based on this, applies a combination of individualized herbal prescriptions, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and Korean medicine psychological therapy that helps emotional stability. By tuning the autonomic nervous system to function healthily, we aim to simultaneously improve various physical and mental symptoms such as heart palpitations, chest stuffiness, hyperventilation, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Especially those who complain of headaches, dizziness, and insomnia can also experience overall recovery along with autonomic stabilization.

Q. Is the symptom of breathlessness and racing heart at work the same as panic disorder? A. Panic disorder is a condition where sudden, extreme fear is accompanied by physical symptoms like racing heart and breathlessness, but if symptoms appear only in specific situations like work, it could be autonomic dysfunction or anxiety disorder related to a specific situation. Accurate diagnosis by a specialist is important.

Q. How long does it take to get treatment at Songdo Autonomic Korean Medicine Clinic? A. The treatment period can vary depending on the severity of symptoms, the patient's constitution, and lifestyle. Usually, meaningful improvement can be expected through consistent treatment and management for about 2-3 months, and if it's chronic, it may take 3-6 months or more.

Q. I am taking Western medicine; can I combine it with herbal medicine treatment? A. Yes, it is fully possible to combine them. If you tell us about the Western medicine you are taking, the Korean medicine doctor will carefully review the interactions between drugs and determine a safe and effective herbal prescription. We often help in gradually reducing Western medicine.

Q. Can these symptoms heal on their own? A. If it's due to temporary stress, it might improve naturally, but in most cases, it is likely to become chronic or worsen with other physical symptoms. It is important to actively treat the signals the body is sending without ignoring them.

Breathlessness and heart palpitations at work are not problems that can be solved by just enduring them. You no longer have to ignore the signals your body has been sending for a long time. If you approach in the right direction, your body reacts faster than you think. Bring your symptoms exactly as they are. Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic will find the cause together.

Where life blooms. For herbal medicine, it's Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic. Check your symptoms similar to mine through the AI consultation on the Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic website!

This article is health information compiled by Dalimchae medical staff based on questions actually received in the treatment room. Medical Supervision | Brain & Autonomic Nerve Treatment Standards Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic Songdo Branch Korean Medicine Doctor Oh Hyunmin (Autonomic Dysfunction Column)