Increased heart rate with GERD flare-ups?

Hi all,
I'm trying to figure out why my resting heart rate is up. I fell off the diet wagon at Christmas and finally got back on it after Easter. I've really abused my system by overeating. I also have eaten too much salt. After Easter, I've cut way back on salt and food, but I think my body is still suffering from the holidays abuses. Do any of you ever notice that your heart rate goes up (especially after eating), when your esophagus is more irritated? My resting heart rate was about 78, but now its around 90. After I eat even a small meal, it goes to 100. I'm having some other things checked out, but I am suspecting an irritated esophagus.......even though I don't have heartburn. Anyone else notice this increase in heart rate when things flare up?
Thanks.

Thanks Elaine,
I get so tired of it beating so hard! I was on a beta blocker for 5 years, and it was wonderful, because it got rid of all that fast and hard beating. In fact, I would occasionally feel for my pulse, to make sure it was still there! that was great. But the med had some bad side-effects, so I'm off it now.
Now that I don't have much heartburn anymore, it seems like my main symptom is that darned fast beating. I agree.....its especially bad when lying down. Sometimes I can't even get to sleep because of it. :(
Thanks for your reply.

I experience the fast heart rate too. Esp at night.  Sometime it can be beating so fast that I wake up gasping and my chest is pounding.  Highly unpleasent.

I have cronic Dyspepsia (basically cronic indigestion) so my fast heart rate is defintely related to my condition.

I do know that eating a large or heavy meal can put more pressure on the heart.  There is a seasonal increase of heart attacks over the christmas period, I guess following that HUGE christmas dinner. 

 

I've been mostly ok but the last few months this has been something that has woken me up at night a few times now.  I have noticed that my resting rate is higher than it used to be, and just in general it feels like my pulse is stronger even though my blood pressure is generally low.  I'm thinking it's GERD because I had a peppermint candy a couple times and it seems like it was related and I read that the peppermint can cause the muscle to relax that keeps acid in the stomach.  Still not 100% sure though, I guess hardly anybody ever is. 

Anyway, the symptoms come and go, my Diet has kept it mostly in control (low/healthy fat, no carbonated bev., etc) but every now and then I toss in something new to see what happens.  The Peppermint Candy was an experiment and the first few times I didn't notice anything but maybe it was having it closer to the evening hours or just the fact that I had a few over a few days that built up the issues.

I still think it might be my gallbladder and not emptying right (Sphincter of Odi issue or disease) but I don't have any pain to speak of so I'm really at a loss.  Pointing that way is a family history of GB removals (usually associated with pain); Low Blood Pressure lately; Yellow Stool ; Got worse after using PPI (and study links) ; almost 100% definitely triggered when I eat eggs. 

Have appt next week with a new GI doc to talk about this stuff, hopefully this one will be more caring.

 

One thing I'm realizing is that for us females, hormones might be playing a huge part. I'm in menopause, but my hormones are still fluctuating. I've noticed that when I have hormone fluctuations, it gives me a ton of different symptoms......some of which are my GERD flares up, my IBS flares up, and my anxiety flares up. (also my heartrate goes up). All of these symptoms were definitely worse on hormone replacement therapy.
I also want to mention that I had horrible daily headaches almost the whole 5 years I was on a PPI. I realize now that the PPI was contributing alot to those headaches.
Its really hard to differentiate exactly what causes what.........but it sure isn't fun.
As I was going through perimenopause, (and fibromyalgia), I developed sleep apnea and would wake up in a panic, and gasping for air with my heart beating out of my chest. Just last year, I started using CPAP and it has helped. So some of you might consider investigating a sleep problem. Sleep apnea can definitely cause GERD to worsen........since all that struggling to breath can bring acid up into our throats.
Life can be a challenge, can't it?
Good luck to all of you.