GERD and excercise

Hi,

What effect does excercise usually have on GERD?

I used to be very active, but haven't been out much since christmas for various medical reasons.

I took my mountain bike out for the first time in months last night and to start with my chest pains got a little worse - at first this was a bit unnerving for a hyphochondriac who suspected a heart condition!! but they eased off after a while with me still cycling every bit as hard (before anyone asks, yes I did have the cause of the chest pains checked by a doctor before I did this! ) this may have been partly influenced by the fact I was quite seriously hunched up with the saddle in a 'road' position whilst riding out to the trails.....

Anyway, I didn't push it too far as it was my first time back out, but things seemed to go fairly well. I didn't feel quite as fit as before, but this is probably mroe due to my recent innactivity than any medical condition.

Just wondered what other peoples experience is of GERD with various forms of excercise - does it make it worse? better? any precautions you should take?

On a linked note - did find this was the best (or atleast most entertaining way) to block out my anxiety. It seems to be just about the only thing that focuses my mind strongly enough to do so.

Chris.

Out on the bike again last night. There did seem to be a little bit of discomfort, but I've had far worse just sat at my desk, so I guess excercise is beneficial overall as it probably distracts me from the axiety.

I recently got diagnosed with GERD myself last month. I was going to the gym 4 times a day taking kuando (kick boxing / boxing classes) and weight training. Back then I didn't know of my conditions and I would always feel tired. Like my body wouldn't adjust to the physical activity. At times I would feel nauseas after doing jumping jacks or when I was bench pressing or doing arms. I used to a lot of punching and kicking movements and will feel really exhausted after a work out...thinking I had over done it...but it wouldn't get better. I just thought I had to build my strength. At times I would get these coughing little attacks during a cool down....like feeling dry. Had no clue of what was going on until I went to the GI. Now, it's been about 2.5 weeks since I haven't done a class and I feel a lot better. I was always feeling weak and wouldn't get a good night sleep. The GERD was kicking my body inside out. I do remember taking a Tai Chi class and the helped my body feel uplifted and alleviated . I will have to start taking less strenuous sports even though I MISS my cardio classes. Hopefully when I get back to some kind of normal I will go back. I hope this helps.

For me, exercise was difficult when my GERD was acting up, but if I could get through it, it seemed to be beneficial. I have a tendency to carry a few extra pounds, and that is NOT good for GERD.

Abdominal exercises like crunches or regular sit-ups were impossible when I was having a lot of reflux. I did discover that I could do this weird thing while standing up...I think it's an exercise I invented and it's impossible to describe. Plus, it wasn't as good as sit-ups and crunches (better than nothing, though).