Does acid reflux cause cardiac arrhythmias?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is expertly consulted by MSc Vu Tan Phuc - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine, Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital.
There are many causes of cardiac arrhythmias such as stress, anxiety, the use of certain medications, anemia, fever, dehydration and potassium in the blood,... In addition, gastroesophageal reflux is also a cause of heart failure. cause of heart failure.

1.Gastroesophageal reflux disease

Gastroesophageal reflux is a condition in which gastric juices back up into the esophagus from time to time or often. The cause of gastroesophageal reflux is due to stagnation of food in the stomach or sudden increase in intra-abdominal pressure, stress, stress, and unhealthy eating habits,...
Reflux Gastroesophageal reflux causes a number of symptoms such as:
gas, heartburn, heartburn: belching symptoms will increase when eating full, when drinking water or when the stomach is full, indigestion or when bending over. front, lying down or sleeping at night. Nausea, vomiting: The patient has a feeling of pressure, tightness in the chest and through the back and arms. This is the reason why gastroesophageal reflux disease is mistaken for cardiovascular disease. Pain in the part of the esophagus that runs through the chest. The reflux of stomach acid irritates the nerve endings on the surface of the lining of the esophagus, and causes pain-like pain in the chest area. Difficulty swallowing: As reflux disease gets worse, the amount of stomach acid refluxes up with greater frequency. As a result, it will cause edema and swelling of the esophageal mucosa, leading to the patient feeling difficult to swallow, stuck in the neck.

Hoarseness, cough: Due to the contact of the vocal cords with gastric acid, swelling leads to swelling. Therefore, the patient may have hoarseness and continuous cough. Mouth produces a lot of saliva: This is a natural reflex when belching, acid backs up into the mouth and saliva is secreted to neutralize the acid. Bitter mouth: The reflux of gastric juice is accompanied by bile, causing the patient to have a bitter taste in the mouth. This is a manifestation of gastric nerve disorder, causing the body to open too much of the pyloric valve and bile to leak out.

2.What is arrhythmia?

An arrhythmia is an abnormality in the heart rhythm, the heart rate can increase too fast or too slow, seen in all ages, and appear at any time. Arrhythmias can cause symptoms such as:
Anxiety Palpitations Chest tightness Accompanied by shortness of breath Normal heart rhythm originates in the sinus node and conduction causes atrial depolarization, then conduction through the nodal system The atrioventricular-history and the purkinjer network induce ventricular depolarization that helps the ventricles. This activity takes place cyclically in a rhythmic and relatively regular manner. Therefore, a normal heart rate will range from 60-100 beats/min.
There are many causes leading to arrhythmia such as: High blood pressure, coronary artery disease, heart failure, diabetes, or using stimulants such as tobacco, alcohol,... Besides, gastroesophageal reflux is also one of the causes of cardiac arrhythmias.

3.Gastroesophageal reflux causes cardiac arrhythmia

Gastroesophageal reflux causes acid reflux to stimulate the vagus nerve. Meanwhile, the vagus nerve has the function of regulating heart rate and regulating gastric juice. Therefore, when stimulated can cause symptoms of heart palpitations, shortness of breath, palpitations.
In addition, some causes of acid reflux are also causes of heart rhythm disorders such as:
Use of stimulants: alcohol, beer, tobacco Stress, stress Hormonal changes, hormones Fever Anemia Hyperthyroidism Side effects of drugs such as cough, cold, flu, asthma, ...

4.Diagnosis of arrhythmia

Some measures to diagnose arrhythmia include:
Electrocardiogram : Record electrical impulses from the heart and monitor heart rate. Perform an electrocardiogram test at rest or exercise. Electrocardiogram Holter: A medical device that records the electrical activity of the heart. Holter ECG can be recorded for up to 7 days, thus diagnosing cardiac arrhythmias during the day. Heart rate monitor: Saves heart beat information, patients can monitor their own status when there are disorders. Echocardiography: One of the important methods used to check for abnormalities in the heart. Use echocardiography to see the structure and function of the heart.

5.Treatment of arrhythmia caused by gastroesophageal reflux

Treatment of arrhythmias caused by gastroesophageal reflux, first need to well control the condition of gastric reflux, limit acid reflux. In addition, patients need to have a healthy lifestyle to reduce symptoms of arrhythmia such as:
Meditation, yoga, gentle exercise to help increase endorphins and reduce stress Practice deep breathing Limits and avoid activities that cause anxiety. In summary, acid reflux causes acid reflux to stimulate the vagus nerve. Meanwhile, the vagus nerve has the function of regulating heart rate and regulating gastric juice. Therefore, acid reflux can cause cardiac arrhythmias. If the arrhythmia is increasing, symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain, etc. appear, the patient should immediately go to medical facilities for examination and treatment measures. timely.
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