Featured:
Allergies
Grilling Guide
eHow Now Blog

Does Acid Reflux Cause the Heart to Flutter?

Does Acid Reflux Cause the Heart to Flutter? thumbnail
Acid reflux and heart flutters can be caused by heart disease.

Acid reflux, sometimes known as heartburn, will be experienced by most people at some point in their lives. Acid reflux causes a number of symptoms, but does not cause the heart to feel as though it is fluttering. If you experience acid reflux and heart flutters at the same time it may be symptomatic of a more serious condition.

  1. Acid Reflux

    • Acid reflux occurs when the acids of the stomach flow back into the esophagus. The term reflux refers to this flowing back. This occurs when the esophageal sphincter, which allows substances into the stomach through the esophagus, cannot close properly. This can happen because of eating large meals, lying down within two or three hours after eating and eating greasy foods.

    Symptoms

    • The primary symptom of acid reflux is a burning sensation in the esophagus, usually around the area of the heart, leading to the description "heartburn." Acid reflux also causes shortness of breath, hoarseness, a sore throat and extreme salivation. In some cases, it brings digested food back into the mouth. Acid reflux does not cause heart flutters.

    Heart Flutters

    • A fluttering heart, also called atrial fibrillation, occurs when the chambers of the heart pump irregularly. This happens for a number of reasons, including an overactive thyroid gland, congestive heart failure and high blood pressure.

    Heart Disease

    • Coronary artery disease is a serious condition in which the arteries that bring blood to the heart begin to narrow. If left untreated, coronary artery disease can starve the heart of oxygen and can lead to heart failure. Heart flutters can be a symptom of coronary heart disease, which also causes chest pain, also called angina. Web MD states that angina is often mistaken for acid reflux. What appears to be acid reflux and heart flutters may be symptoms of coronary heart failure instead.

    Considerations

    • You should contact your doctor if you experience heart flutters. Heart flutters may be indicative of a more serious heart condition, especially when they occur with angina, which can be mistaken for acid reflux. If you find that symptoms of acid reflux last for more than three days in a row you should contact your doctor.

Related Searches:

References

  • Photo Credit Blue Heart image by netzfrisch.de from Fotolia.com

You May Also Like

  • Can Acid Reflux Cause Sinus Problems?

    Chronic sinusitis and acid reflux frequently occur together, but scientists are not sure exactly why. Because of the high co-occurrence, doctors, including...

  • Signs & Symptoms of Acid Reflux Cough

    Signs & Symptoms of Acid Reflux Cough. Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid or bile flows into the esophagus, causing irritation. The...

  • What Are Some Cures for Acid Reflux?

    Acid reflux, or gastroesophogeal reflux (GED), is a common occurrence where the muscle that opens and closes at the bottom of the...

  • Does Smoking Cause Acid Reflux?

    One of the first changes doctors usually suggest when they diagnose a patient with acid reflux is to "stop smoking." Although smoking...

  • Heart Disease & Acid Reflux

    Heart disease and acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, can have similar symptoms, sometimes leaving people unsure which one is causing the...

  • Difference Between Heart Attack & Acid Reflux Symptoms

    According to the American Heart Association, almost 500,000 deaths in the U.S. each year result from coronary heart disease (CHD). Chest pain...

  • Relationship of Acid Reflux & Heart Disease

    Acid reflux and heart disease have a convoluted relationship. Symptoms of a heart attack are often masked by or mistaken for acid...

  • Can Sinus Drainage Cause Acid Reflux?

    Sinus problems and acid reflux are known to be connected. People who suffer from acid reflux are more likely to suffer from...

  • Heartburn & Acid Reflux Vs. Heart Problems

    Heartburn is one of the symptoms acid reflux. Heartburn can cause pain and burning in the chest that mimics the symptoms of...

  • What Are the Causes of Heart Flutters?

    Heart flutters, also known as heart palpitations, feel like a fluttering in the chest or an unusually fast heart rate. Often they...

  • Heart Flutter

    A heart flutter, or arrhythmia, can be worrying, but it often happens when there is no other sign of heart disorder. It...

  • How to Recognize the Symptoms of Acid Reflux

    During acid reflux, as the name indicates, stomach acid backs up from the stomach into the esophageal tube. This action results in...

  • How to Treat Left Atrial Enlargement

    Left atrial enlargement is a significant risk factor for atrial fibrillation, a dangerous and difficult-to-treat arrhythmia of the heart, which makes a...

  • Heart Fluttering

    Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, so the uncomfortable sensation of a heart flutter or heart...

  • Foods That Cause Acid Reflux

    Acid reflux is a pesky condition that can present itself at any time. With approximately 25 million Americans suffering from this condition,...

  • What is Cartia Used for

    Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved Cartia for use in treating the third type of angina, unstable...

  • Acid Reflux & Gum Disease

    Acid reflux, or GERD, occurs from acid stomach escaping up through the throat and sometimes into the mouth. If stomach acid comes...

  • Cause of Malabsorption and Acid Reflux

    Malabsorption and acid reflux are two distinct digestive disorders with varying degrees of consequence for human health. Each of these disorders has...

Related Ads

thumbnail
Featured