Acid reflux and heart palpitations: Is there a link?

Acid reflux is a common name for gastroesophageal reflux (GER), which can be a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It results from stomach acid flowing back up your food pipe (esophagus), often causing pain in your chest.

It can also cause other symptoms like nausea, coughing, and bad breath. Some people also believe that acid reflux can cause heart palpitations, and you might experience these symptoms together. However, there is no direct evidence to show that these symptoms can cause one another.

Acid reflux and heart palpitations

Acid reflux is a digestive condition in which your stomach acid flows back into your esophagus. This can cause heartburn, a burning pain in your chest, among other symptoms.

Heart palpitations are sensations of a rapid or irregular heartbeat. This can feel like a brief fluttering, pounding, or racing of the heart. They are quite common and usually don’t require treatment. Some people with acid reflux believe it causes their heart palpitations.

There is no scientific evidence for a direct link between acid reflux and heart palpitations. But there may be reasons for thinking that such a link is possible.

For example, there is some evidence that GERD may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation, which is where your heart beats unusually quickly and irregularly. Atrial fibrillation is a different condition from heart palpitations, but the symptoms can be easily mistaken for one another.

In fact, the National Institute of Health (NIH) lists atrial fibrillation as a possible cause of palpitations.

Another reason that some might link GERD to palpitations is due to the role of mental health. According to the NIH, conditions like depression and anxiety can cause palpitations.

A 2021 study estimates that anxiety and depression are more than twice as common in people with acid reflux than in the general population. If a person experiences acid reflux and heart palpitations due to underlying anxiety, they might falsely see a link between the two conditions.

So, while acid reflux is not a direct cause of heart palpitations, there may be underlying conditions that are linked, leading people to believe their acid reflux is the cause.

Other causes of heart palpitations

More research is needed into whether acid reflux and heart palpitations are linked.

But scientists have documented several other causes of heart palpitations. They’re commonly due to underlying cardiovascular problems such as:

• atrial fibrillation
• heart disease
• aortic aneurism (a bulge in an artery close to your heart)

• cardiomegaly, or enlargement of the heart

Some research suggests that people with GERD have a greater chance of developing heart disease, so this is another way in which GERD could be related to heart palpitations.

Caffeine intake is another factor that is linked with heart palpitations. Some research suggests that increased alcohol consumption (particularly binge drinking at weekends or on holidays) can also lead to atrial fibrillation and heart palpitations.

Both caffeine and alcohol can be triggers for acid reflux. So if you consume a lot of either of these, you might experience acid reflux symptoms and heart palpitations at the same time, despite them not being directly linked.

Acid reflux management

There are several different medication options to treat your acid reflux, both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription.

OTC options include:

• Antacids that reduce your acid levels, such as Alka-Seltzer
• H2 blockers like Zantac 360°
• Combination medications like Pepcid Complete

Prescription options include:

• omeprazole (Prilosec)
• esomeprazole (Nexium)
• lansoprazole (Prevacid)
• pantoprazole (Protonix)
• famotidine (Pepcid)
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• nizatidine (Axid)
• metoclopramide (Reglan)

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Heart palpitation management

There is no one treatment for heart palpitations. In fact, it usually resolves on its own. But if it’s linked to an underlying condition, you can treat that condition to find relief from your symptoms.

For example, if it’s linked with heart arrhythmia, doctors might treat it with beta-blocker medications like metoprolol (Lopressor). If it’s related to heart disease, this is often treated with lifestyle strategies and beta blockers.

You might be recommended to reduce your alcohol and caffeine consumption if it seems to worsen your symptoms. If your palpitations are related to anxiety or depression, antidepressant medications like sertraline (Zoloft), therapy, or stress-reduction lifestyle changes like yoga or meditation may help.

Summary

There is no research evidence to suggest that heart palpitations are a symptom of acid reflux. Acid reflux does not appear to be a common cause of palpitations. But there are reasons you might experience both.

For example, GERD is linked with atrial fibrillation, which can cause or mimic palpitations. Additionally, GERD is linked with anxiety and depression, which can also lead to palpitations. Finally, excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption may worsen both palpitations and acid reflux.

These are reasons some people believe acid reflux is causing palpitations, when, in fact, it is other conditions causing the symptoms.

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