http://www.livestrong.com/article/16326-can-acid-reflux-disease-cause/ Can Acid Reflux Disease Cause Heart Palpitations? by MARTIN BOOE Last Updated: May 16, 2016 For most people, the term "acid reflux" goes hand in hand with heartburn. That’s because the burn of the acid is likely to be felt in the lower portion of the esophagus, in the region of the heart. But acid reflux can also cause heart palpitations and other disturbances, such as chest pain. There is one huge caveat, however: If you experience chest pressure or pain and palpitations, it is extremely important that these symptoms be taken seriously and not be automatically attributed to heartburn, since they may also signal a heart attack. Acid Reflux, Anxiety and Palpitations Heart palpitations are described as racing or pounding heartbeats, a fluttery or sinking feeling in the chest cavity and the sensation of the heart beating irregularly. In people with chronic and severe acid reflux, known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), stress and anxiety are often associated and they may even be more prone to panic or depression, all of which can contribute to the perception of heart palpitations. They may worry that their symptoms are caused by something much more serious, and this can trigger anxiety. Sometimes this combination of troubles presents at nighttime, when stress together with discomfort from GERD seem to conspire against the calm needed to fall asleep. People may also be more aware of their heartbeat at night when going to bed. Substances, Medications, Anxiety and GERD Certain substances are associated with both acid reflux and premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, which are commonly felt as "skipped heartbeats." Too much caffeine aggravates acid reflux and can also cause palpitations. Heavy alcohol consumption can trigger both acid reflux and PCVs -- and other heart rhythm abnormalities such as atrial fibrillation, especially in susceptible individuals. GERD and asthma may occur together in the same person, and GERD can actually worsen the asthma; the symptoms of asthma can cause anxiety in and of themselves, but nervousness and racing and pounding heartbeat are also among the potential side affects of airway-opening asthma medications such as albutural. Chest Distress and the Esophagus GERD is one of the main causes of noncardiac chest pain, or NCCP, which can mimic a heart attack and is related to the sensation of palpitations. The same set of nerves supplies the heart and the esophagus, and so it's hard to know which is the source of the discomfort. Simply put, if you think something's wrong with your heart, the anxiety this causes might bring on palpitations. However, it is important to note that palpitations are one of many potential symptoms of an actual heart attack. NCCP may be described as a squeezing or burning pain below the sternum, which may radiate to the back, neck, arms and jaws. This is one of the reasons why it is so important to know your risk factors for heart disease and take symptoms such as chest pain or pressure and palpitations seriously. Precautions and Warnings Based on symptoms alone, it can be difficult for doctors to tell whether heart palpitations and chest pressure or pain are being triggered by GERD or if they signify a serious heart condition. If you are experiencing chest symptoms such as palpitations, pressure or pain, it is important to be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider as soon as possible. Heart involvement must be ruled out before GERD is explored as the possible cause. Medical advisor: Jonathan E. Aviv, M.D., FACS I will still be seeing a new Heart Specialist to rule out any problems with my heart but I believe I have found the source of my heart palpitations. I have lived with GERD or Acid Reflux Disease for years and after reading this article and others, and going on Medical Forums where people who have GERD are dealing everyday with heart palpitations, asthma symptoms, etc. and have been to Heart Specialists and had every test just to find their hearts are normal. Yet still they are having these palpitations and so many described the exact scenerio that mine are occuring under. If the Heart Specialist can find no problems with my heart itself...then I believe my answer is GERD...and there is much that can be done to help alleviate these palpitations in that area.
I don't know if it can cause heart palpitations, but after 2 years of suffering with Acid Reflux I got rid of mine. It's going on 3 weeks now since I had it last. I read a post where a woman's husband didn't get it anymore, and all he did was start eating one, snack-size apple each night between dinner time and bedtime. He at the most sour he could stand, which turned out to be 2nd or 3rd on the sour scale, lol I've chosen Braeburn, but also went through a bag of the Granny Smith (too sour, but I ate them and they worked). During that time I also had 2 Braeburn and they worked too, so my next bag has been the Braeburn. To me this is like a miracle. I was take Prilosec as my throat and esophogus were burned and I had to do something. But I stopped the prilosec the same day I started the apples, almost 3 weeks ago. By the way, I got Acid Reflux EVERY night before I started the Prilosec. Didn't matter what I tried, or, what I ate or didn't eat. I eat balanced meals, and so far haven't left anything out to try and help the Gerds, but it's working to eat the apples. I eat mine about an hour before I lie down to read, and eventually sleep. I've also been nervous when I didn't get dinner on until almost 8 pm, and went to bed by 10, but no Gerds with the apples. Can't recommend trying them if you have it. I do get heart palpitations off an on, but I think mine is maybe stress. I also go to my cardio twice a year, more if needed, for my AV Node block which is kept in check with a pacemaker. PS I grew up with severe asthma but it's gone since my late teens. I was in the hospital several times put on breathing machines. I had an inhaler and never let it out of my sight.
@Denise Smith I know what you mean about trying everything for the GERD. Diet, medicine, natural remedies, etc. I have done it all too. I am glad you found something to help you. I haven't tried the apple thing although I do eat apples...so I will give it a try for sure. Thanks for sharing this with me. I wish that one thing worked for everyone but I have tried enough to know this isn't true in most cases. It is usually trial and error until you hit on something that works or at least helps it not be as bad. I am hoping that my heart palpitations are caused by the GERD and not a serious heart issue because I could live with that much easier than I could live with knowing there is a real problem with my heart.
I don't eat anything else after dinner btw @Babs Hunt just thought I should mention that. My apple is my snack. If it does work for you, that will be 4 people so far it is working for, I hope and pray it does. I had Esophageal spasms too, if there's anything really weird, I seem to get it. The first time I thought I was haven't a heart attack, felt like someone sitting on my chest, and the pain/ache moved up into my jaw and even my teeth. Scared me pretty good. Went to doc, they gave me a barium swallow they called it, found out it was ES. So they gave me nitro to take at the first sign. Same as with a heart attack, that's suppose to stop an ES. Well, I read an article on a lady that had the spasms several times a day, and she simply couldn't handle taking the nitro all the time. Her daughter said she tried a glass of cold water (read about that somewhere as well) and took it away in seconds. I tried it! Yep, it worked, and now I keep water nearby always, at night is the only time I'd get one. I think all the things you mentioned, maybe even asthma, can be connected. But I don't know that for sure
That's what's weird @Denise Happyfeet One Doctor says it is all related while another one doesn't believe it is...although the one's who don't believe it is can find no other cause for it no matter how many tests they run. I think we just have to know our own bodies and learn to recognize what things are happening in sync with other things. Since I have never had heart palpitations before I will definitely see a Heart Specialist for the first step in trying to find the cause of this. I already know that my allergies/asthma worsens my GERD and vice versa because I have lived with this for years. While I know what to do to lessen the severity of symptoms that occur during this time...I have never found anything that cured these things.