Can Gerd cause heart palpitations/PVC's

I have had Gerd for 8 years and in January I notice that when I have mayor heartburn like right now I feel PVC'S" premature ventricular contraction" this are like extra heartbeats and this are so annoying and scary.

Can this be the cause of my palpitations? please help! I've been taking Protonix 40mg for like a week now and it hasnt helped.

Hey Faith
Yes I went to the Dr and got a 24 hour holter monitos, and eco and a stress test all came back normal.

I use to get some anxiety but Ive controled it myself now that I have a baby girl Ive become stronger.

Protonix is all I'm taking at the moment

 

Post Edited (Gabriela) : 10/13/2011 10:06:08 AM (GMT-6)

Gabriela-
Welcome to Healing Well.
Yes gerd can cause these symptoms. The vagus nerve can get irritated and cause a lot of symptoms you are experiencing. since they ruled out heart issues I recommend getting back into your GI doctor.
Are you only taking the protonix? If so you may need to add something or change something med wise.

Take care,
Bill

Gabriella, Welcome to the forum. I get heart problems when my reflux is triggered. I have posted quite a bit on the heart's connection to the esophagus on this and the heart forum. You can look up my posts by putting a few "key words" into the box at the top of the page.

As was said by others, the vagus nerve connects the heart and all parts of the digestive system. When you get your stomach or esophagus irritated it can trigger heart arrhythmias. I get rapid heartbeat (tachycardia) when I eat a trigger food (mine happen to contain sulfites). It's called "cardio-esophageal reflex", aka "linked angina." You can google research papers on this.

Most doctors haven't heard of this. I had to work with an allergist who has been in practice a long time and sees it often to find out what was triggering my reaction. It's serious! Once I had a heart attack from it when it went on to become a coronary vasospasm and possibly a plaque rupture in the artery causing a blockage. I have ben to the ER several times, once needing a conversion that "reset" my heart.

Usually I can get my heart to get regular by doing "valsalva maneuvers," like coughing or bearing down like on the toilet. My cardiologist prescribed Atenolol to chew up when I can't get it stopped quickly. If it goes on for an hour I have to go to the ER. Chewing up an aspirin can prevent a clot from forming when this goes on too.

Gabriela

Good Morning, I answered this question in the heart forum for you. 

Cardio just called me and said not to worry about anything and to take magnesium supplements he said he doesn't know if they will help or not but they wont hurt. Any good supplments that you guys know of?

I came across this forum when I Googled under "does heartburn cause palpitations." I was self-diagnosed with "deglutition-induced atrial fibrillation" ("swallowing-induced palpitations" in English) last night after I began experiencing brief episodes of significant palpitations whenever I swallowed food. Knowing I had a sound mind, I went on line to find an answer. Somewhere I read there is a link between esophagus/stomach and heart due to the vagal response, which perfectly explains the "mystery" of why I only experienced heart symptoms upon swallowing. Well, about 30 minutes ago, I realized I accidentally got cured (no more palpitations upon swallowing food) after weeping and sobbing during desperate prayers for healing (kind of like how hiccups go away when startled.) It was a miracle with science behind it. I remembered that the vagus nerve is part of the parasympathetic nervous system. So I did a bit research on weeping and sympathetic nervous system. It turns out since the 1960's researchers have theorized that crying is a response to feeling upset and therefore is governed by the sympathetic nervous system. I believe my prayers were answered and I was healed instantaneously by working up my sympathetic nervous system during prayerful weeping to fight the vagal/parasympathetic system behind my swallowing-induced palpitations! God is good!

Source: I am a stay-home M.D.

Post Edited (deer) : 9/19/2013 4:28:52 PM (GMT-6)