Gastro cause fast heart rate - British Heart Fou...

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Gastro cause fast heart rate

Amr29 profile image
11 Replies

Hi there everyone. Is there any link between GERD and fast heart rate.

Here's my personal experience. It happens many time especially when I'm about to sleep.

When I lay down at bed and close my eyes I get sudden sharp spinning feel in my head and feel fulness in my full body followed bu fast heart rate. Can't understand wts happing to me.

Has anyone had same experience. Sometimes I get confused is it stomach issues or acid reflux.

I done all heart test like eco 24 echo 14 day holter monitor cardic mri. All of them.comes normal.

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Amr29 profile image
Amr29
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11 Replies
RufusScamp profile image
RufusScamp

What is GERD? It is not in the list of abbreviations. Your experience sounds most unsettling. I hope you get some useful answers.

in reply to RufusScamp

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Also sometimes written as GORD in the UK. It’s when you have chronic acid reflux, be that symptomatic or silent.

RufusScamp profile image
RufusScamp in reply to

Thankyou. This sounds like what my mother had before she suffered her heart attack. I hope amr is kept in touch with medical team.

in reply to RufusScamp

It’s under-diagnosed - a lot of people get told it’s just ‘acid indigestion’, when if it’s happening on a regular basis regardless of what/how much you’re eating, it’s likely to be GORD, which is chronic and needs managing. I was having daily heartburn alongside acid surging up my throat and coming out of my nose two or three times a week, only to be told it was purely my size. Lost all the weight and the problem remained just as bad, but it’s only a decade after it started that they’ve finally scoped me (for something else) and discovered I have a hernia, which is a very common cause of GORD.

In terms of cardiac issues, my understanding is that angina and CHD related things quite frequently mimic indigestion, including heartburn (acid indigestion), which is another reason why anyone having regular heartburn should see a doctor to get it checked out and under control.

I just replied to your other post - have a look at it and see what you think, but I’m wondering if you’re having what are colloquially known as ectopic beats. At least some of what you’re describing would definitely fit with that, including the circumstances under which you’re getting palpitations e.g. lying down, after eating, sitting quietly.

Blondie12345 profile image
Blondie12345 in reply to

I didnt realise lying down, resting, after eating is symptoms of ectopic beats

in reply to Blondie12345

For some people, yes. The association with eating is stimulation of the vagus nerve that runs past the heart between the brain and stomach. This link between the vagus nerve and the heart is why, in conditions triggered by ectopics, like SVT, medics will usually try and stimulate the nerve in an effort to revert the heart rhythm back to normal before trying anything else. It’s not one of my own triggers, but it’s a common one. Positional ectopics are also commonplace - I can very reliably give myself PVCs by lying on my left side or bending forward and down. This is a frequently reported and proven medical phenomena, thought to be caused by compression of the abdomen and/or increased intrathoracic pressure. More generally, though, we know ectopics occur most often when the heart rate is lower, so usually when we’re at rest, the theory being that there is ‘more space’ for them to occur when there are longer gaps between beats. Being relaxed and at rest may play a part in why those that are aware of them also more readily notice them in that state. Whilst I do occasionally get the odd PVC thump out of absolutely nowhere, most of the PACs I’m personally aware of occur when I’m relaxed and doing very little.

If you haven’t already seen them, Dr. Sanjay Gupta (York Cardiology) has a couple of videos about ectopics on YouTube that go through the various mechanisms of ectopics as we currently understand them, including the above. He’s an NHS and private cardiology consultant up in York.

Blondie12345 profile image
Blondie12345 in reply to

Thank you for the detailed reply your comment is exactly what I am experiencing down to the examples you gave aswell. I am awaiting a 24hour ecg but not 100% sure if that will capture anything.. even the low RHR example you mentioned too.I will take a look at those youtube videos thank you

in reply to Blondie12345

Glad it was helpful. A 24hr holter will pick up any ectopics you have that day - as long as you’re having them daily, it’ll be worthwhile.

Hidders profile image
Hidders

I have no definite knowledge but anecdotally I know that once I started having a fast heart rate most of the time I also had a lot more indigestion but the cause of the fast heart rate for me is Long C and that is connected to gastric problems too and I know some of the medication I am now on can be a cause of it.

Gaz22 profile image
Gaz22

I have a similar problem I had two stents fitted in 2016 . Over the last two years I have had a problem with acid reflux I know I have a hiatus hernia. I went for a CT scan last year for a check on my lymph nodes which was ok but on notes doctor I had a moderate hiatus hernia and my heart was significantly calcified I asked my doctor how bad said did not know. I have had chest pains for last two years some dull and some sharp pains I get them everyday and doctor has put it down to my hiatus hernia and upped my opresazole tablets 20mg two in morning and two a night. I still have chest pains and acid coming up and worry about it if it's my heart or hiatus hernia

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