AKOM News
Contributed by Dr. Jewon Lee, Director of BM Korean Internal Medicine Clinic
: Peering into Internal Medicine, 25th
2025. 10. 22.
"I feel tightness at the pit of my stomach, and I get dizzy when I walk or move. They also said my kidney numbers are high."
A 60-year-old male patient visited.
During his initial check-up, his heart rate was found to be only 32 bpm (29 bpm on EKG), diagnosed as 'junctional bradycardia'.
12-lead EKG test showing findings of junctional bradycardia
Fragmented Health: AFib, Kidney Failure, and Drug Side Effects
The patient had already undergone three procedures for Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) but was recently told it had relapsed and he needed a fourth procedure.
He had also been told for years that his kidney function (Creatinine 1.6mg/dL) was poor.
Reviewing his medications (Carvedilol, Flecainide, Amiodarone, etc.), I suspected his severe bradycardia and dizziness were side effects of these drugs.
Diagnostic test results during the Atrial fibrillation treatment process
The KM Physician as Primary Care Provider: Realizing the 4C's
True primary care requires Comprehensiveness, Coordination, and Continuity.
- Coordination: I immediately referred him to the university hospital for medication re-evaluation. As a result, his anti-arrhythmic drugs (like Amiodarone) were stopped or reduced, and his bradycardia and dizziness improved immediately.
- Comprehensiveness: The hospital focused only on 'AFib', but the KM clinic saw the 'whole' patient. To address his kidney failure (Creatinine 1.94mg/dL), obesity (BMI 32.7), and pre-diabetes (HbA1c 6.5%), we stopped his diuretic (Indapamide) and began a Hanyak (herbal medicine) based on 'Taeksa-tang' and lifestyle corrections.
- Continuity: When his AFib recurred during treatment, instead of resuming strong chemical drugs, we adjusted the Hanyak by adding 'Bu-ja' (Aconite).
Long-term continuous EKG test results showing no Atrial fibrillation observed for 7 days
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and 12-lead EKG test showing Atrial fibrillation findings
The Result: Averting the 4th Procedure
After treatment, the patient's dizziness and discomfort disappeared, and his AFib did not recur.
In the process, he lost 11.2kg (24.7 lbs), his kidney function improved, his blood pressure stabilized (no diuretic needed), and his blood sugar recovered (HbA1c 5.7%) —he regained total body balance.
He was able to avoid the fourth procedure.
12-lead EKG test showing normal findings after Korean Medicine treatment, including Hanyak (herbal medicine) and lifestyle/diet modification
This is comprehensive care that looks after the patient's entire life, not just the disease. This is why the Korean Medicine physician is the true primary care provider.
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Peering into Internal Medicine 25 - AKOM News
"I feel tightness at the pit of my stomach, and I get dizzy when I walk or move. They also said my kidney numbers are high."
The Korean Medicine physician who restores health balance through comprehensive care: the true primary care provider.
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