Is this the same as heart disease?

No. Sim-hwa is a term used in Korean medicine pattern identification (Byeon-jeung), whereas heart disease is confirmed through medical evaluations such as ECG, blood tests, and imaging tests.

What changes serve as clues?

We examine changes following stress, along with symptoms such as throbbing, chest tightness, facial heat sensation, dry mouth, and difficulty falling asleep.

When should I get a medical test first?

If you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, or a persistently rapid pulse, you must check for heart problems first.

How is this distinguished during a medical evaluation?

We observe whether symptoms worsen after tension, anger, or lack of sleep, check the actual pulse and blood pressure, and see if dry mouth, insomnia, and facial heat sensation change together. Based on necessary heart and thyroid evaluations, we determine if the pattern identification of Sim-hwa is appropriate.

Sim-hwa does not mean that there is actual inflammation or heat in the heart

Sim-hwa is a Korean medicine term used to describe a state of increased tension and arousal, such as chest throbbing, tightness, facial heat sensation, dry mouth, insomnia, and anxiety. It is not determined by a single emotion like anger or the fact that the pulse is fast, but by observing the temporal relationship between various symptoms.

Commonly confused terms and their differences: Heart disease is confirmed through ECG, blood tests, and imaging tests, and hyperthyroidism also requires a blood test. The term Sim-hwa is not a diagnostic name for these diseases; you must not delay urgent heart evaluations by interpreting chest symptoms solely as a result of stress or rising heat.
Information to record before your visit: Please record the time and duration when the throbbing and chest discomfort began, your pulse and blood pressure at the time, and the relationship with exercise, tension, caffeine, and sleep. You should also inform the clinic during your visit about facial flushing, dry mouth, sweating, weight changes, any new medications, smartwatch records, and family history of heart disease.
Scope of this material: WHO data was used for the scope of Sim-hwa as a traditional medicine term, and MedlinePlus data was used to distinguish the symptoms and tests for myocardial infarction and hyperthyroidism. The explanation of Sim-hwa does not diagnose heart disease or guarantee the efficacy of Korean medicine treatment. If chest pressure, shortness of breath, fainting, or cold sweats occur together, you must contact 119 immediately.

Official References

Medical staff who wrote and reviewed this article

Choi Yeon-seung

Chief Director of Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic

The meaning of Sim-hwa, its differential range, and patient guidance expressions have been reviewed. The last review date is August 25, 2026.

Graduated from Kyung Hee University College of Korean Medicine
Providing Korean medicine treatment since 2010
Symptom treatment from the perspective of heat-cold balance and constitution

Check medical evaluation criteria for my symptoms View full profile

Check the guides where these terms are used

Symptom and Disease GuideHwabyeong

Symptom and Disease GuideFacial Flushing

Symptom and Disease GuideAutonomic Dysfunction

Heat and Cold ColumnTreatment varies depending on the cause of chest heat sensation, such as heartburn, throbbing, or tension

We distinguish whether chest heat sensation is heartburn after meals or upper-body heat accompanying throbbing, and explain herbal medicine and acupuncture treatments that vary based on digestion, tension, or deficiency heat.

Heat and Cold ColumnMy hands feel hot: Why do I feel heat when my test results are normal?

We examine the causes of persistent heat sensations, such as burning sensations in the palms and soles or a feeling of heat rising to the face, that show no abnormalities in medical tests, from the perspective of heat (熱) in Korean medicine, and provide criteria for self-assessment.

Heat and Cold ColumnThe meaning of facial heat sensation and Korean medicine treatment: How do we categorize heat that surges upward?

We explain the meaning of facial heat sensation (heat rising to the face, head, and chest) and provide guidance on the direction of Korean herbal medicine and acupuncture treatments based on tension, digestion, deficiency heat, and the imbalance of upper heat and lower cold.

Medical GuideWhat else should I examine when my face feels hot or heat rises to my face?

Facial heat sensations can be divided into facial flushing where redness is visible, upper body heat where only heat is felt, and patterns where sweating and palpitations occur together. Even if there are no abnormalities in tests, sharing the time of occurrence and accompanying symptoms can help find a more specific direction for Korean medicine treatment.

Medical GuideWhat should I check if tests are normal but sensations of heat and cold persist?

Just because a cause was not found in a test does not mean the symptoms the patient feels do not exist. The Baekrokdam Heat-Cold Clinic respects existing results while examining details not captured in test reports, such as location, timing, sleep, sweat, and digestion, categorizing them by heat-cold patterns to find points where Korean medicine treatment can help.

Comparison of similar terms

Korean Medicine ConceptHeat syndrome

Heat syndrome refers to a tendency where various body signals converge toward a 'hot' direction. It is not a disease name referring to fever caused by infection or thyroid disease, so necessary differential diagnosis is required first.

Symptom ExpressionUpper Body Heat Sensation

Facial heat sensation is a term used to describe symptoms where the face, head, or chest feels flushed or as if heat is surging upward. We distinguish between menopausal symptoms, thyroid issues, medication side effects, and tension responses; for symptoms that persist after medical tests, we examine the distribution of heat and cold along with accompanying changes.

Korean Medicine ConceptLiver fire

Liver fire is a category in Korean medicine used to determine if heat sensations in the face, eyes, and head, redness, headaches, and dry mouth appear following irritability or tension. This is not the same as hepatitis or liver dysfunction.

Medical TerminologyCold-Heat Pattern Identification

Pattern identification (Byeon-jeung) is the process of examining the location and timing of heat or cold sensations, as well as accompanying patterns such as sleep, digestion, and sweating, through medical interviews and physical examinations. It is not a substitute for medical tests or diagnoses.