SVT & GERD

[daniebrown]

I have gerd & svt and it seems everytime my gerd flairs up I tend to have heart palpitations , heart doc says not related, just wondering if anyone else has these symptoms.

[bikecollector]

I also have this problem.

I have been suffering from GERD for about 12-13 years now. Back about 17 years ago I was having a lot of trouble with SVTs. It was pretty predictable. If I was doing anything strenuous and bent over in any way the palpitations would begin and my heart would start pounding at a very high rate. I had to bend over and take some deep breaths to get it to stop. Saw a cardiologist and they made me wear a halter monitor and they caught an episode on the recording. They said that I had SVT and they put me on a Beta Blocker (Nadalol 40mg) which I took for the next 12 years. I never had a single episode after starting the meds. Fast forward 12 years later I see my cardio for a check up and he advises me to stop the beta blocker to see what happens since I had not had any episodes in so long. I weened myself off of them and never had any trouble.

Fast forward another 4 years to this past week and I was trying to see what would happen if I laid off my Aciphex since I suspected it was causing dizziness for me. I was off it for about 7 days (on Zantac) and I went out and did some yard work all morning. I come inside when I'm done and eat a granola bar and drink some water and about 20 minutes later I'm bending down to take off my shoes and BAM...the palpitations kick in and my heart is pounding super hard and super fast. I have to sit on the bed and take some deep breaths and after about a minute or two of this is stops. I was very discouraged since it had been nearly 16 years since I had an episode and thought I was done with them forever.

Looking back now I think that the reflux must have played a part in this because even 4 days later I'm still having some trouble with reflux even though I'm back on the Aciphex and I've noticed when I bend over after eating I feel as though the palps might kick in again.

Hoping that the Aciphex will eventually cause the reflux to calm down again and then I won't have to deal with either.

[bigkev414]

Have a look at the heart forum and you will see numerous entries from people like me who know from years of experience that there is a definate relationship between GERD and digestive inflammation problems and SVT's.
The worse the GERD and stomach upsets, the more likely my heart rythum problems will happen - especially if I bend over or twist.
I don't know how many patients with these problems need to report to their doctors before they are classified as 'evidence based' as Dr Kini replied but there are a heck of a lot, and the problem is that only the odd doctor actually listens to the patients and their problems; they assume they know what's wrong from the textbooks and the fact that the people (like me and you) who suffer from these problems have had many years of actual real life experience, and have proven over time that their experiences re-occur and a pattern establishes.
YES THERE IS A CONNECTION!! Get another doctor!
all the best.

[Ratnakar Kini]

Hi,
Literature does not say about the relation between GERD and SVT. But I have heard many patients describing this association.
I wont say they are related until evidence based case reporst are available.
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The information provided is for patients’ education only and is not a medical advice. Always consult your personal physician for complete evaluation of your health problem.

- Ratnakar Kini M.D.