First, let’s look at a news report: “On the Hangjinqu Expressway in Quzhou, Zhejiang, a driver of a speeding car flipped over after falling asleep at the wheel. All five family members in the car were injured to varying degrees. The grandmother in the back seat suffered a lumbar vertebra fracture, but she protected her 3-month-old grandchild in her arms, keeping the baby safe.”
Honestly, watching the video is quite shocking; the car crashed violently into the barrier, raising a cloud of dust. This family was lucky not to suffer major injuries. The news attributed the cause of the accident to the driver’s “fatigue driving”; could it really be that simple?
Coincidentally, a good friend of mine had a similar experience. He was driving with his whole family for a trip when he fell asleep on the highway. The car scraped violently against the barrier, and he suddenly woke up, panicked, and braked just in time to avoid a tragedy. Although his family was unharmed, he was so frightened that he spent a week in the hospital to recuperate.
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So, why do people fall asleep while driving? Is it really just fatigue driving?
In fact, these individuals may not necessarily be fatigued drivers. Fatigue driving refers to driving continuously without rest for long hours, or not having rested well before driving. However, these friends might have just been driving for half an hour before dozing off, which can be easily confused with fatigue. Moreover, there is a significant secret hidden here; if not clarified, many people may not realize they are in danger.
Today, let’s discuss the spring dilemma of Phlegm-Damp Constitution.
People with this constitution typically have a characteristic of being overweight, snoring heavily while sleeping, feeling extremely drowsy during the day, and experiencing a heavy sensation throughout their body. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this condition is generally classified as belonging to the phlegm-damp constitution.
So, what exactly is phlegm-damp constitution?
Phlegm-damp constitution refers to a dysfunction of the internal organs, leading to a disturbance in the movement of qi (vital energy), blood, and body fluids, resulting in the accumulation of dampness and phlegm. This condition often manifests as obesity, particularly in the abdomen, which feels soft like cotton when pressed. Symptoms include chest tightness, excessive phlegm, drowsiness, and a heavy, uncomfortable body.
Individuals with phlegm-damp constitution tend to prefer rich and fatty foods, and there are many such people among food lovers. Their tongues may appear enlarged or have teeth marks, with a white, greasy, or slightly yellow coating.
Strictly speaking, there are two types of phlegm-damp constitution. One type is caused by qi deficiency, where the individual lacks the strength to transform and transport dampness, leading to its accumulation. Symptoms of qi deficiency are more pronounced in these individuals, such as a large, soft abdomen, sweating with slight movement, shortness of breath with minimal exertion, and easily formed stools. These individuals are the main body of phlegm-damp constitution, and although they also enjoy rich foods, their inability to transform and transport results in stagnation within the body, thus belonging to the “deficient” category. In the Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine), such individuals are referred to as “Gao Ren” (Greasy People).
The other type belongs to the “excess” category. These individuals eat excessively, enjoy rich and fatty foods, and are also overweight, but their flesh is very firm. We usually describe them as “sturdy”. In the Huangdi Neijing, they are called “Rou Ren” (Meaty People). It is generally believed that these individuals are normal and strong. However, I believe this is problematic; the transition between deficiency and excess can occur rapidly, and such individuals, with little exercise or as they age, may become mixed deficiency and excess individuals, leading to various diseases.
These two situations can sometimes be mixed together, but generally, phlegm-damp constitution is more commonly seen in the former.
Individuals with this constitution tend to feel extremely drowsy in spring.
In fact, people are generally more prone to drowsiness in spring due to the warming weather, which promotes the smooth flow of meridians and the expansion of collaterals, requiring more blood to circulate throughout the body. Therefore, even ordinary people may feel sleepier than usual; I’m sure many of you remember those moments in spring and summer during class when you could barely keep your eyes open.
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At this time, individuals with imbalanced body constitution are even more prone to drowsiness. For example, those with blood deficiency are more likely to feel sleepy than others. Meanwhile, those with phlegm-damp constitution already have issues with the movement of qi and blood, and during this time, their blood supply is even more insufficient, leading to greater drowsiness.
I have a friend who is in this situation; he is particularly overweight, having been strong as a child, but after indulging in rich foods, he became both deficient and overweight. To what extent? He snores during the day, even when he is awake, sitting across from you, looking at you with his eyes wide open, yet his throat emits snoring sounds. If you walk with him, you can hear a wheezing sound from his throat.
This is a serious problem. Such overweight individuals, if combined with qi deficiency, have weak vital energy to support their muscles, leading to a particularly relaxed throat area during sleep, resulting in loud snoring and potentially sleep apnea, known as sleep apnea syndrome.
This is a very dangerous condition. Many men experience this without realizing its dangers. Sleep apnea occurs when relaxed throat muscles completely block the airway, causing breathing to stop. The body then reacts, suddenly alerting itself, tightening the muscles, allowing the person to escape this state. Therefore, those with sleep apnea often appear to hold their breath for a long time, then suddenly take a deep breath, breathe for a moment, and then fall back into deep sleep, only to experience another apnea.
What are the dangers of this condition?
Sleep apnea syndrome is a group of sleep-related breathing disorders with potential fatal risks. Numerous studies have shown that this condition is prone to complications such as arrhythmias, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and even heart failure, respiratory failure, and sudden death. Some scholars estimate that 3,000 people die from this condition worldwide every day.
Moreover, this condition can trigger systemic organ responses. For example, it can damage the kidneys and cause disturbances in the nervous system due to insufficient oxygen supply to the brain, leading to memory decline, reduced intelligence, and so on. Additionally, due to insufficient blood supply, it is closely related to sexual dysfunction, among other issues.
Furthermore, individuals with this condition may also experience disordered blood lipid levels, leading to thickened blood. Coupled with insufficient blood supply to the brain at night, one significant consequence is: severe decline in brain function during the day, leading to extreme drowsiness.
◎Drawn by an eight-year-old
We have probably all seen such individuals; during a meeting at work, they snore loudly, making it difficult for the leaders. In fact, they are not doing it on purpose; they simply cannot control themselves.
I have a friend who, every time we sit together to chat, you will notice he has already slumped over in his chair, asleep.
Such individuals do not need to be fatigued drivers; they may have slept for eight hours the night before without any fatigue, but as soon as they sit in the car for a few minutes, drowsiness hits them, and their eyes begin to close. A friend of mine described this situation as very awkward; once on the highway, he couldn’t stop at will because he hadn’t reached a service area, yet his eyes were so heavy he couldn’t open them. He said he tried chewing gum, using menthol oil, singing, and various methods, but ultimately, nothing worked. In this state, isn’t it dangerous?
What can be done?
I tell everyone there are only three methods.
First, eat a light diet; stop consuming rich and fatty foods, and include more radishes and vegetables. A friend joked that he went to see an old TCM doctor for weight loss, and the doctor gave him a plaster, saying to stick it on and it would work perfectly, but he didn’t know where to stick it. When he opened it at home, the plaster read, “Stick it on your mouth.” This is not a joke; controlling your diet is particularly important.
The second method is to tonify qi. You can consult a TCM practitioner for a prescription or take qi-tonifying medicines like Buzhong Yiqi Wan (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Pill) or Xiangsha Liujun Wan (Aromatic Sand Six Gentlemen Pill). With consistent use over time, improvements can be seen.
The third method is to get moving; exercise! In my opinion, individuals like this are already in a precarious situation, with various diseases imminent. They may seem comfortable, but they are actually teetering on the brink of death. At this point, it is crucial to make drastic lifestyle changes, starting daily exercise to turn the tide. There is a feature in WeChat called “WeChat Sports” where you can join and track how many steps you and your friends take daily, allowing for mutual supervision. I now walk seven to eight kilometers daily, but I find many people can walk twenty kilometers!
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Some people say they don’t have enough time; how can they find time to exercise? In fact, you no longer have the right to say that; it is only when you truly fall ill that you will realize how precious your remaining time is.
Let me tell you, as long as you follow these three points, you will find that your snoring at night improves, you no longer wake up gasping, your mind is clearer during the day, and you won’t feel drowsy while driving. Most importantly, you will be moving further away from the danger of death!
Returning to my friend, the one who snores even while awake during the day. He works as a leader in a unit and performs exceptionally well. However, previously during meetings, he would sit there snoring, and when colleagues reminded him not to sleep, he would open his eyes wide and say, “I’m not sleeping!” Later, while studying superior documents and during meetings, he sat in the front row and snored again. This time, a superior leader spoke to him, saying this was unacceptable and had a negative impact. He suddenly realized and immediately started exercising, walking to and from work, and when he had time, he would walk vigorously. As a result, he quickly lost dozens of pounds, and even his big belly disappeared. Now he is a fitness role model for us.
— THE END —
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