The occasional skipped rhythm of the heart and the 'feeling of the heart dropping' are primarily explained in modern medicine as forms of 'palpitations' or 'arrhythmia'. The most common among them is indeed the 'premature beat', with premature ventricular contraction or premature atrial contraction falling into this category. Because the heart compensates by resting briefly after beating one beat early before beating again, you end up feeling as if your heart is thumping down or skipping a beat.
These premature beats can actually occur commonly in healthy people as well. Stress, anxiety, excessive caffeine intake, smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep deprivation, and severe fatigue are cited as major causes. When the balance of our body's autonomic nervous system—namely the sympathetic nerve and parasympathetic nerve—is broken, it affects the heartbeat; stress overactivates the sympathetic nerve, making the heart more excitable. In addition, electrolyte imbalance, especially potassium and magnesium levels, hyperthyroidism, and taking certain medications can also trigger premature beats. Most are fine without special treatment, but if they are frequent or severe, or accompanied by other symptoms such as dizziness, syncope, or chest pain, they could be a signal of heart disease, so it is important to consult a specialist.
The 'congealment of qi and blood' mentioned in Donguibogam aligns, from the perspective of modern medicine, with the fact that complex factors such as autonomic nervous system imbalance due to stress, reduced blood circulation, and chronic inflammation reactions affect cardiovascular health. Modern medicine also acknowledges that this is not simply a problem of the heart, but a phenomenon occurring within the organic connection between body and mind. Therefore, when these symptoms occur, it advises that an overall effort to restore the balance of body and mind is needed, rather than merely suppressing the symptoms. Listening to the signals your body sends is the most important thing.
