Heartburn, a common digestive issue, often causes a burning sensation in the chest. Many wonder about its potential effects on other bodily functions, particularly heart rate. Understanding this relationship is important for distinguishing between digestive discomfort and more serious conditions. This article explores how heartburn can influence heart rate and when to seek medical attention.
The Connection Between Heartburn and Heart Rate
Heartburn, a burning feeling in the chest or throat, occurs when stomach acid travels back up into the esophagus. While heartburn is a digestive symptom not directly related to the heart, the body’s response to its discomfort and pain can indirectly influence heart rate. The intense sensation of heartburn can trigger a stress response, leading to a temporary increase in heart rate.
The physical discomfort and anxiety from a heartburn episode can activate the body’s “fight or flight” response, which naturally elevates heart rate. This is a physiological reaction to perceived stress or pain. While acid reflux does not directly change heart rhythm, the heartburn experience can lead to an increased pulse.
Physiological Mechanisms at Play
The connection between heartburn and heart rate involves the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary bodily functions like digestion and heart rate. This system has two main branches: the sympathetic nervous system, responsible for the “fight or flight” response, and the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes “rest and digest” functions. When heartburn pain and discomfort arise, the sympathetic nervous system can become activated.
Acid reflux can irritate the vagus nerve, a major component of the parasympathetic nervous system connecting the brain, heart, and digestive system. While vagal nerve irritation sometimes leads to a decrease in heart rate, the discomfort and pain from heartburn can paradoxically cause an increase via the body’s stress response. This is because the stress and anxiety from the burning sensation can override the vagus nerve’s calming influence, shifting autonomic balance towards sympathetic dominance. This heightened sympathetic activity then results in a faster heart rate.
Differentiating Symptoms and When to Seek Care
Chest pain is common to both heartburn and heart attack, making differentiation crucial. Heartburn presents as a burning sensation in the chest, often occurring after eating or when lying down or bending over. It may also be accompanied by a sour taste in the mouth, bloating, or belching.
Heart attack pain, conversely, is described as pressure, squeezing, fullness, or tightness in the chest that may last more than a few minutes or come and go. This pain can radiate to one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
Other concerning symptoms that may accompany a heart attack include shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea, vomiting, unusual fatigue, or lightheadedness. Women may experience heart attack symptoms differently, with more subtle signs like back pain, jaw pain, or extreme fatigue.
If you experience new, severe, or unexplained chest pain, especially if it lasts more than a few minutes or is accompanied by symptoms like shortness of breath, cold sweats, radiating pain, or lightheadedness, seek immediate medical attention. Do not attempt to self-diagnose, as delaying care for a heart attack can have serious consequences. Calling emergency services, such as 911, is the fastest way to receive life-saving treatment, as paramedics can begin assessments and treatment en route to the hospital.