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Acid Reflux

Is there a link between acid reflux and palpitations?

By BS MediaTwitter Profile | Updated: Wednesday, 27 March 2019 23:39 UTC
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Acid reflux, can sometimes cause a tightening sensation in the chest
Acid reflux, can sometimes cause a tightening sensation in the chest

Palpitations are irregular heartbeat generation that can occur periodically or often. Although palpitations have galore direct causes, internal organ reflux illness (GERD), the long-run and frequent occurrence of acid reflux, is unlikely to be one of them. Nevertheless, acid reflux shares some of the same triggers as palpitations and may besides lead to them indirectly.

The primary symptom that acid reflux does cause is a burning pain in the chest and upper abdomen, which occurs due to stomach acid leaking back into the food pipe.

In this article, we look at heart palpitations in more detail, including the common causes of palpitations and how they mightiness relate to acid reflux.

What are palpitations?

Palpitations are irregular heartbeat generation that can make a person feel as though their heart has skipped a beat. The heart may besides feel like it is flap in the chest.

Other people with heart palpitations may feel that their heart is bfeeding harder than usual or bfeeding too fast in comparison to its regular rate.

Much of the time, heart palpitations are harmless, and people can think of them as a speed bump in the heart's natural rhythm.

Other times, heart palpitations may signal a problem with the heart or other organs.

Some people experience heart palpitations regularly piece others may only have them on rare occasions.

Acid reflux and causes of heart palpitations

While acid reflux will not normally be a direct cause of heart palpitations, it may lead to them indirectly.

For instance, if a person with GERD feels stressed or anxious about their symptoms, this may lead to palpitations.

Several factors may besides trigger some acid reflux and heart palpitations. When this happens, it is easy to confuse the causes.

For examinationple, alcohol consumption may cause palpitations in some people, and it can besides trigger GERD symptoms.

Likewise, too much caffein may sometimes trigger GERD symptoms, and the personal effects of caffein can besides cause skipped heartbeat generation or palpitations.

Eating too much, or feeding a particularly heavy meal, may besides cause some heart palpitations and acid reflux in some people.

The symptoms of heart palpitations can vary from person-to-person, but may include:

  • a fast or sport heartbeat
  • the heart pounding in the chest or bfeeding very hard
  • a flap sensation in the chest
  • a feeling of the heart skipping a beat
  • a "flip-flopping" sensation in the chest, as though the heart has turned over

These sensations are due to either premature chamber contractions (PACs) or premature chamber contractions (PVCs). some of these are extra beat generation in the heart that happen just before the regular heartbeat, causation the person to feel an odd sensation.

Severe symptoms are besides possible aboard heart palpitations. These may include:

  • chest pain
  • breathing difficulty
  • cold sweats
  • feeling dizzy or fainting
  • tightness, pain, or pressure in the shoulder, neck, or jaw

When they occur together with heart palpitations, these symptoms may signify a heart condition or medical emergency. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek emergency medical attention.

Diagnosing heart palpitations

To diagnose heart palpitations, doctors will first perform a physical examination and ask about any symptoms. It may be beneficial for people with heart palpitations to keep a daily journal of their symptoms to discuss with the doctor at the appointment.

The doctor may do some physical checks, so much as hearing to the heart with a medical instrument or checking the thyroid secretory organ for swelling. Much of the time, they will besides order one or more tests to examinationine the heart in more detail. Possible tests include:

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

An ECG records impulses in the heart. Doctors may order an ECG to track the rhythm and beat generation of the heart and check for irregularities.

Holter monitor

If a simple ECG does not capture any irregularities, doctors may have the person wear a Holter monitor.

A Holter monitor is a portable ECG that records the heart for an extended continuous period, possibly 24 hours or more. This may be helpful for people who only have palpitations in specific situations, so much as when lying down or after a meal.

Event recorder

If palpitations are less frequent, a doctor may ask the individual to wear an event recorder. An event recorder only records the heart when prompted. The user pushes a button when they feel the palpitation, and the recorder picks it up for the doctor to examinationine later.

People may wear event recorders for much thirster than Holter monitors, sometimes keeping them on for up to several weeks.

Ultrasound

Doctors will sometimes order an ultrasound of the chest, called an graph, to view the heart and see how it is looking and working.

Blood tests

Some blood tests may help diagnose underlying causes, so much as anemia or thyroid problems.

Doctors normally only treat heart palpitations related to more severe heart conditions.

The treatment can vary in each case, and doctors will thoroughly discuss all of the person's options with them.

For common heart palpitations, a doctor may recommend life style changes.

If palpitations seem to occur around the same time as GERD symptoms, it is likely to be because of the meal the person just ate.

They may be overwhelming meals that are too large, or their body may be sensitive to a specific food that they are feeding.

People can often identify trigger foods by keeping a daily journal of what they eat and any symptoms that they experience. Trfeeding palpitations can sometimes be as simple as removing these foods from the diet.

Avoiding the excessive consumption of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana is besides likely to help some people.

For stress-related palpitations, doctors may recommend that people relieve stress by incorporating some of the following activities into their weekly routines:

  • meditation
  • yoga
  • tai chi
  • deep breathing exercises
  • mild-to-moderate exercise

Doing at least one of these activities regularly may help reduce stress, which can cause palpitations in some people.

What to do when you experience palpitations

Palpitations may be a sign of an underlying condition, even in cases where stress triggers them.

Anyone experiencing heart palpitations on with other serious symptoms should seek emergency medical care. These symptoms include:

  • chest, back, or shoulder pain
  • tightness in the jaw
  • shortness of breath
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