Can Anxiety Cause Reflux Symptoms?
Traditional treatments for heartburn, such as antacids and acid reducers can aid in managing your symptoms. However, for long-lasting relief, you’ll need to work on reducing your anxiety.
Research has shown that anxiety and acid reflux are connected. Stress levels can affect your digestive system and cause or worsen acid reflux.
Symptoms
Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid leaks into the esophagus. Acid reflux can trigger heartburn, and other symptoms. There are many possible causes of acid reflux, such as certain foods like spicy foods and caffeine; medications, such as NSAIDs; pregnancy or being overweight, and stress. The symptoms include a burning feeling in the throat as well as chest pain as well as a bad taste inside the mouth and trouble swallowing.
Numerous studies suggest an association between anxiety and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) which is the medical name for acid reflux. Both conditions have similar symptoms. For instance, GERD can cause chest pain that could be mistaken as a cardiac event.
One theory is that anxiety symptoms eyes alters brain signals sent to the stomach. This can cause the lower-esophageal-sphincter to relax in an abnormal way. This allows stomach acid back up into the throat. Moreover, anxiety can also increase the production of stomach acid. In turn, those with high levels of anxiety may have more severe symptoms of GERD than people who are not anxious.
Another possibility is that anxiety and GERD are linked because of stress. When you’re stressed out your body produces the hormone cortisol, which can make you feel nauseous and have other digestive negative effects. Cortisol can also cause your stomach to produce more acid. This can worsen GERD symptoms and lead to heartburn.
Anxiety and GERD can cause an unending cycle, since both disorders have symptoms that overlap. This makes it difficult to differentiate between the two conditions and properly treat them. Fortunately, there are many at-home and prescription treatments that can anxiety cause reflux symptoms treat both conditions.
Find out the triggers that cause anxiety and GERD. For example, if your anxiety is due to stress at work, try to reduce that stress. You can also try avoiding foods that contribute to your GERD for example, fried food and acidic beverages. Consider seeking psychological treatment in order to find the root cause of your anxiety. This can be done with medication or by speaking to an psychotherapist.
Causes
Heartburn is a common problem for everyone. However, if it becomes a chronic and frequent problem, this could indicate that you are suffering from GERD. It is normal for people who have GERD to also suffer from anxiety. Both conditions typically are inseparable.
The signs of GERD include stomach acid or pepsin backing up into the esophagus which may cause irritation and pain. It is believed to be due to a weakening of the lower esophageal muscle that prevents food and liquids from entering your lungs while you swallow. This is caused by a combination factors, including tension in the muscles due to stress and anxiety.
It’s also believed that when you’re anxious your intestines produce more acid than usual. This could be due to the fact that your body has a natural response to stress that triggers your digestive system. This extra acid may irritate the esophagus and trigger the sensation of burning.
Researchers have also found that the brain and the gut are linked. This is referred to as the “gut-brain” Axis and it’s believed that your mood and your emotions can impact how your body functions as well as your gut bacteria. This is why it’s so important to address any underlying anxiety issues you might be experiencing.
The good news is that you can treat both anxiety and acid reflux. There are a myriad of ways to treat this, including taking antacids or other heartburn medicines, making changes to your diet, and exercising regularly. However, it’s important to remember that weird physical symptoms of anxiety treatments will not solve the root of the issue. Instead, you’ll need to improve your mental health too.
There are many options for treating anxiety, such as anti-anxiety medications and therapy. These treatments will help reduce your anxiety symptoms and improve your quality of life. Join an online support group to learn from others with anxiety and get tips. You can also participate in online forums where people suffering from anxiety offer encouragement and support.
Treatment
Fortunately, there are many treatments for anxiety as well as acid reflux. If you are struggling with both, it is crucial to treat both simultaneously for long-lasting relief. You can also try medicines for heartburn that are available over the counter and avoid eating foods that trigger acid reflux. It is also recommended to incorporate stress-relieving methods into your life like yoga or meditation.
Although it’s not entirely understood the reasons GERD and anxiety go hand-in-hand experts believe they share a common cause. Anxiety disorders can impact the way that your stomach functions. Particularly, an anxiety disorder can cause the lower esophageal sphincter function improperly. This can lead to the accumulation of stomach acid and then rise up into your esophagus.
People with GERD may also experience increased sensitivity in their stomach. This can be aggravated by anxiety or other mental health problems. This makes it difficult for them to tell when something is causing their heartburn and it can be hard to determine what triggers the symptoms.
Treatment for GERD and anxiety typically involves lifestyle changes, medication and therapy. Medications such as proton pump inhibitors and antacids are able to help with acid reflux by preventing the release of gastric acid from your stomach. These medicines can be extremely effective, but they do not address the root cause of your issues. A therapist can teach you how to cope with your anxiety and find ways to reduce stress in a healthy way.
Anxiety disorders and GERD typically are characterized by a negative cycle in which anxiety causes discomfort, which can then increase stress levels. This can lead to a vicious circle where you suffer from both. It is not necessary to suffer from both. There are many treatment options that can enhance the quality of your life for both anxiety and reflux such as Cognitive behavioral symptoms of anxiety Therapy, which focuses changing negative thought patterns. Interpersonal Therapy teaches you how to improve your relationships on a daily basis.
Prevention
Everyone gets heartburn sometimes however, if it occurs regularly it could be an indication of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD can cause stomach acid to leak up into the throat or esophagus. This can trigger a sensation of burning in your chest or throat, and make you anxious about the possibility of injury.
There are a few steps to help prevent your anxiety from contributing to your heartburn and acid reflux. First, if you’re on any anxiety medications, talk to your doctor about how they may affect your reflux symptoms. Some common anti-anxiety drugs, such as benzodiazepines, can increase the risk of GERD and should not be used if you suffer from GERD.
Second, avoid beverages and foods that trigger your heartburn or worsen your symptoms. This includes fatty and spicy drinks, foods, and caffeine. Stress and anxiety can increase your appetite, making it important to maintain a balanced diet and sleep enough.
Anxiety can cause you to overeat, which could result in obesity and other health issues. Excess weight puts more pressure on your abdomen which may cause reflux. If you’re worried about your digestion, talk to a doctor who can recommend healthy eating habits and could prescribe medication to ease your problem.
While prescription medications can ease heartburn, it’s also good idea to look for ways to lower your stress levels. This can include meditation, exercising, or taking time to unwind.
Certain studies have found that people suffering from GERD suffer from more anxiety levels compared to those who don’t. It’s not known why this is, but experts speculate that it may have to have something to do with the way GERD can cause anxiety.
It’s also important to note that certain over-the-counter acid-reflux medications can worsen your GERD symptoms, so it’s a good idea to consult your doctor prior to trying them again. They can recommend alternative medications, such as analgesics, lansoprazole or omeprazole. They can also offer advice on how to reduce your stress levels, which can reduce anxiety and GERD.