stomach/heart connection

[sciman]

I have a mild cardiomyopathy and I've noticed that I go through periods when my stomach feels really bloated and my heart is simultaneously pounding away. It seems to be connected with what I eat. Does anyone know whether certain meals can actually add stress to your heart (the digestion process). Or is it more likely that my indigestion makes me more aware of heart issues.

[TTUHutch]

I have had irregular heart beats since I was 21, approximately 16 years. I might have 1 mild episode one day followed by a string of episodes the following. I have received sonograms, pictures, etc and all results appear normal.

I did a stress test, and did great. The nurse commented as such though she was very concerned when I asked her if she would like to see it skip. By simply bearing down on my chest I could make it skip repeatably. Of course that is a no brainer, don't do that dummy.

Anyways, as with most men who find their true love.. weight became less of an issue after 21 because I nabbed a great woman.

At 37, I have gotten about 25 pounds over my perceived optimum weight and decided to lose it. My restrictions in serving amounts during meals has apparently had a wonderfully unexpected effect. To date, I have not had ONE SINGLE heart episode since. It is not an issue of what I eat, just how much
.
I always felt extremely constricted in my chest after eating a large meal, yet passed it off as indigestion. I still drink my coffee, still dip my snuff (I know, I know) yet restriction of such things that generally have negative effects on your heart seem to take an immediate backseat to my meal portion sizes.

Indeed, I can eat 10 little meals a day on my way to approximately 1700-1800 calories with no ill effect. Yet, if I eat one rather large meal now and here comes the bloated feeling in my chest.

I cannot explain the results, nor do I even attempt to impart some uneducated, home schooled wisom upon anyone in here.
I simply pass along my results with the hope that perhaps it would have the same effect on even one person. I know the frustration, anxiety, and depressed state one enters when dealing with these skips and racing hearts.

It is very exciting for me. Being a former thrill junkie (surfing, racing cars, bull riding, overall dangerous sports) I always shrugged off lacerations and fractures for I knew their cause. My heart skipping was so different and it rocked me to my core. I always associated the heart as the core that kept me going, and the problems I had were uncontrollable and extremely scary.

Anyways, I sincerely hope this might help someone.

Regards,
Hutch  

[Encephalomalcia]

Listen to your body.  If you eat something and get these symptoms, try not to eat it again.  I know the other night I had chicken strogenoff and I did not feel good afterwards.  My heart felt strange and almost like it was weighed down.  It took about 24 hours to start feeling better.  I have no known heart problems yet, but sometimes wonder with the symptoms I get.  We have a strong family history of heart disease (everyone in our family gets it).  I do know that when heart disease gets worse, the stomach will get worse after eating.  My mother could eat only fruit at end stage heart failure.  

[jondsam]

Well doctors will say that more than likely, eating causes the vagal nerve to be distressed and effect your heart. They have not yet been able to write that fact in stone, but it is more than likely true,  So yes eating does cause increase in heart rate to aid in the digestion process.