Bradycardia caused by Acid Reflux Disease?

[Andy]

I am a 42 year old male, in good physical shape, who has been diagnosed with acid reflux disease and am currently taking
Aciphex. I have recently acquired a slow heart rate, around high 40's during the day, at rest, and into the 30,s, according to a Halter monitor at night. Before this, my heart rate was steady at around 60 bpm, at rest. The stress test, EKG, and nuclear heart imaging shows everything normal. I do not have any dizziness, lightheadness or any of the normal signs of Bradydardia, at this time, but I do get a weird fullness, sick feeling, usually after dinner, at night in my chest and stomach, which is probably related to Acid Reflux? My cardiologist wants to put a pacemaker in. I also have a mild Mitral Prolapse Valve, in which I do take antibiotics before going to the Dentist. I am very active and suffer job related stress.    My questions:
1. Can the Acid Reflux cause Bradycardia?
2. Could the Aciphex cause Bradycardia?
3. Can stress cause Bradycardia?
4. Any relationship to a Mitral Prolapse Valve?
5. What should I do next, should I get a 2nd opinion, should I wait till I get the Acid Reflux under control?  It usually takes several months to get under control and then I will go for a good while before my stomach problems return.

Thanks - Great Website!

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

1. No, periodic acid reflux should not lead to a sustained bradycardia.
2. No.
3. No.
4. Probably not in your case.
5. If you have no symptoms from your slow heart rate and your heart rate responds normally to exercise, and the heart rhythm is normal, there is no real need for a pacemaker. It might make sense to get another opinion before pacemaker implantation.

[EP__]

1: Acid Reflux should not have anything to do with bradycardia.
2: Some medicines are know to cause benign (usually) arrythmias in patients in their 40s.  Although this is probably not the case, it may be a good idea to stop using the Aciphex for a while to see if your heart rate returns to a more normal state.
3: Stress may caue the acid reflux, but it is doubtful that it is related to the bradycardia.  
4: Mitral Valve prolapse is a separate condition that requires independent treatment.  Requesting antibiotics before non-sterile procedures is a legitimite precaution.  However, as long as the prolapse is mild, a valve replacement surgery is not neccesary.  Nevertheless, this condition should be checked on regularly.
5: It is always a good idea to get a second opinion before agreeing to any invasive procedure.

[Terry]

"EP" your "comment" is phrased as if it were learned medical advise. Are you a medical doctor? What is the source of this information? What you say might be valid and informative.  But, how do we know that, since it does not come from the Cardiologists from the Cleveland Heart Clinic who are the medical advisors to this forum?

[EP__]

I am currently working at The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, a division of NIH.  I am working on a cardiology fellowship with some of the best cardiologists in the world.  However, I am not yet a cardiologist, and my information, although mostly legitimite, should be viewed as phrased, from a private citizen who is knowledgable, but not a proffesional.

[Richard to EP]

I know that the NIH has a study using heparin coated capsules of fibroblast growth factor which are implanted in the heart to stimulate angiogenisis during bypass surgery.  Do you have an opinion on the effectiveness of this drug.

[EP__]

Actually, the current study going on at DECA concerning prognosis during and after bypass surgery in high risk patients uses revascularization as a potential intervention that decreases cardiac death and total mortality in patients.  The paper should be coming out in JAMA in November (if accepted).

[Terry]

EP, thanks for the clarification. Nothing personal; it's just that we've had some less than reliable information offered in the past. Sounds like you know what you're talking about.

[JR]

E=MC2
hey!....im a physicist!

[CGTMHI]

We have received complaints that a non-qualified person using the initials "EP" has been posting medical advice in this forum.  Please be advised that the ONLY QUALIFIED medical information in this forum, comes from doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Heart Center.  The Cleveland Clinic doctor's answers will appear indented just below the Question ("Q") and will be preceeded by the letter "A" (for answer).  We do accept comments from all, however, please be aware that people posting comments are not qualified medical professionals working with The Cleveland Clinic or Med Help International.  

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[Andy, the original question posted]

I appreciate the response from "EP" and I do realize that it was not a response from a medical doctor or from The Cleveland Heart Clinic. I received the information as a comment only and not as medical advise.

I would like to hear from other people that have the same symtoms of bradycardia, that are otherwise healthy, that had this condition "just occur", that are about the same age and physical conditon, etc. Does anyone know what causes bradycardia in healthy persons, that have no other heart conditions or blockage, etc.? I have tried to "blame" the bradycardia on Acid Reflux disease or stress, but apparantly that is not the case.

Thanks

[Deb]

Hi,

I had a slow hear rate too, and although I had been passing out for a few years, I had very slow heart rates that were finally caught on a holter, along with very rapid rates.  I have what is called SSS or sick sinus syndrome where the heart goes fast or slow when ever it feels like it.  I now have a pacemaker and my heart rate does not go below 70 during the day and then goes down to 60 at night during sleep.  I feel much better and not so tired all the time.  I was 41 when I got my pacer.

[EP__]

Andy, arrhythmias are often idiopathic (no recognizable cause), but contributing factors could be various medications that you may take (ie. cold medicines, diet pills, allergy medicines).  Alcohol, caffeine, tobacco and rarely stress (it is possible, but not very common) could cause arrhythmias as well.  Although moderate bradycardia isn't neccesarily a serious problem, if you are noticing serious symptoms such as fainting, you should quickly consult your doctor and perhaps consider further treatments.  It may also be important that your doctor know about any family history of sudden cardiac death, to better access your risk of further heart complications.

[melody]

I AM A 38 YO FEMALE WHO HAS BEEN HAVING CHEST PAIN AND BRADYCARDIA, I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL DOCTORS AND HEART SPECIALIST.  MY PRIMARY DOCTOR THINKS THAT IT IS ALL IN MY HEAD, HEART DOCTOR THINKS IT MAY BE SYNDROME X SILENT WOMEN'S HEART DISEASE.  I AM STILL HAVING CHEST PAIN THAT RAIDATES DOWN MY LEFT ARM AND UP IN MY NECK. I HAVE REACHED THE OF DESPERATION.  I DID HAVE A HEART CATH DONE AND SEVERAL STRESS TEST, ALL SHOWED NORMAL. I DO SMOKE AND WAS TOLD I HAVE MITROLVAL PROLAPS.  DOCTORS SAY I DO NOT HAVE MITROVAL NOW. I JUST DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO ANY MORE. IT IS AFFECTING MY LIVE AND VALUE OF LIFE WITH MY 4YO SON. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECITED

[Andy, the original question posted]

to Melody,
What time of day does this occur?  It is possible, like my symtoms that the chest pain and bradycardia are not related.
I have some chest pains at times, probably due to acid reflux and maybe stress.  I have noted caffine of any kind, tobacco, and spicey/greasey food, do not help the situation. I have not had the pain in the arm or neck, but again stress has caused pain in my shoulders. I can not believe that once you have a mitral prolaps valve, that it goes away, but i.m not a medical doctor. Get another opinion.
good luck!
Andy

[melody]

ANDY, I HAVE BEEN TESTED FOR ACID REFLUX AND WAS PUT ON MEDICATION,JUST IN CASE BUT ALL THE TEST WERE NORMAL. I AM A 911 DISPATCHER AND I AM UNDER ALOT OF STRESS.  I HAVE BEEN OFF WORK FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS BECAUSE OF THE CHEST PAINS AND PASSING OUT DUE TO LPB.  I HAVE CHEST PAIN WEATHER I AM STRESSED OUT OR N0T.  THEY HAVE PUT ME ON PROZAC 40MG PER DAY AND IT HAS NOT HELPED. THE ALSO PUT ME ON ZANZX BUT ALL IT DID WAS KNOCKED ME OUT.  I COULD NOT FUNCTION ON THE DRUG AT ALL.  I AM AT MY WHITS END.  THE PAIN COMES ON ALL TIMES OF THE DAY AND NIGHT WEATHER I AM MOVING AROUND SITTING STILL, OR STRESSING OUT. FOOD DOES NOT SEEM TO MAKE A DIFFERANCE, ALTHOUGH I DO DRINK ALOT OF DIET COKES.                                                                                                                                                                              FROM MELODY

[susy]

I am a 58 yrs old female that has very slow pulse with no symtoms.  My bpm are between 30 and 33 when I sleep and 40 during the day.  When I do some exercise (which I do not do too often)it goes up to 80-85.
I feel tired but I think it is because I am about 15 lbs overweight. I also have atrial fibrillation.  I take aspirin every day.  My doctor told me that because I have no symtoms I should not worry.
I have an older brother (1 yr older) and a younger sister (3 yrs younger) that have a pacemaker. I have another sister that also has a slow pulse.
I would like to know if I should be concerned if my heart rate goes under 30 when I sleep and where in USA is where they do research on this condition.
Thanks to the forum.  Any information will be greatly appreciated.

[Deline]

A related discussion, acid reflux connection was started.