Breaking News

GERD and Anxiety: Are they really linked to each other?

0 0

Do you feel a burning sensation on your chest up to your throat? Do you suddenly feel something bad is going to happen? Or have you experienced unexplained medical illness? If your answer is yes, then this article is for you.

As most medical websites describe, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a digestive disorder that occurs when acidic stomach juices, or food, and fluids back up from the stomach into the esophagus. Anxiety, on the other hand, is defined as a mental health disorder that deals with uncontrolled emotions and severe phobias. Furthermore, it is also our body’s natural response to stress. However, if this occurs more than twice a week and already affects your daily activities, then you might have a severe anxiety disorder and would need proper consultation and medication.

These lifestyle diseases are both manageable. Sadly, these disorders are on the rise. We interviewed an Internist and according to him, they’ve catered a total of 200 patients via tele-consult a day and several ER cases during this lockdown alone. But what causes GERD and anxiety? Why do most patients claim they are linked to each other?

SYMPTOMS OF GERD

Symptoms may vary per person, however, according to Mayoclinic.com and to most gastroenterologist, the constant ones are the following:

  • A burning sensation in your chest (heartburn), usually after eating, which might be worse at night.
  • Chest pain.
  • Difficulty swallowing.
  • Regurgitation of food or sour liquid.
  • A sensation of a lump in your throat.
  • Stomachache
  • Dizziness due to hyperventilation

Additionally, GERD can be worsened if you are obese, smoker, or if you keep on delaying hunger. Some studies show that pregnancy and hiatal hernia could also activate GERD.

Usually, GERD happens when eating too fast, lying down after eating, eating fried and oily foods, and of course, stressing too much can also be a reason for your GERD to act up.

SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY ATTACKS

FACT: Everyone experiences anxiety at some point in our lives. We get anxious for a test result or if we receive bad news. The bottom line is anxiety is our body’s natural response to stressful events like financial problems, health issues, and more.

Here are some symptoms of anxiety attacks, as described by a psychiatrist we’ve interviewed:

  • Excessive worrying
  • Feeling on the edge or irritable
  • Restlessness / Fatigue
  • Panic attacks- difficulty breathing, feeling of impending doom, feeling ill or you feel like dying, shortness of breath, chest pains, persistent cough, feels like a lump in your throat.
  • You avoid social interactions

If you would put the symptoms of GERD and anxiety attacks side by side, you would notice that both demonstrate similar symptoms. Here’s why:

According to the Internist, when an acid comes up in your esophagus, you will feel a burning sensation that is painful in the chest area. Hence, it is called a “heartburn.” Since the pain is in the chest area, a patient would think s/he’s having a heart attack. This is the time when a patient would hyperventilate (difficulty of breathing) and the lack of oxygen will make your muscles tensed and painful.

Tips and Identifiers if you’re having a heart attack

  1. A heart attack is really painful. So painful, you won’t be able to talk, laugh, or do anything. While the chest pain of an anxiety or panic attack goes away. You can still talk and identify things around you.
  2. A heart attack is a feeling of heaviness in the chest. Doctors and patients usually describe it as an elephant or someone heavy sitting on your chest. Anxiety or panic attacks, on the other hand, makes it painful and numb due to less oxygen.
  3. Although, both makes you sweaty, cold hands and feet, it’s always best to go the emergency room for proper consultation.
  4. DO NOT SELF- MEDICATE.

So, are they really linked to each other?

In an article published by Healthline.com, as well as, some information gathered by our Internist and Psychiatrist friends, they might be linked to each other due to the nature of symptoms and how patients react to it. For example, in my case, I have a severe panic disorder. I’ve been rushed to the ER so many times. I couldn’t breathe and I felt like I was having a heart attack. My stomach, upper, and lower extremities were numb. After my routine tests and came back normal, the doctor finally told me that I had a severe anxiety attack secondary GERD. Cos, when you passed hunger or ate something that will trigger your acid (like dairy, caffeine, and oily food), you will experience GERD. And, if you don’t know how to manage it, you will hyperventilate, you’ll stress, and when you stress, your stomach will produce more acids, and it’s a vicious cycle.

How to overcome GERD and Anxiety

Since these are lifestyle diseases, all we need to do is just adjust our lifestyle. As usual, exercise, proper diet, and meditation can help alleviate the attacks. Try doing yoga, a 30-minute walk, or meditate for an hour. Food-wise, refrain from eating oily, caffeine, and dairy foods such as milk and cheese. Instead, increase your vegetables, probiotic, fish, whole grains like oatmeal, and alike. Please know that tomatoes, lemon, are acidic. We found ways to lessen the acidity of these superfoods but will tackle that on another topic.

It’s also best to surround yourself with positive people. Join support groups, bond with your family and friends, and just continue to be preoccupied. And most importantly, pray for guidance.

Routine Tests

If you think you have the above-mentioned symptoms, call your doctor and set an appointment for some routine blood tests. It’s vital to know the following are within normal limits:

  • Fasting Blood Sugar
  • Lipid Profile
  • Thyroid tests
  • CBC
  • Urinalysis
  • Chest X-ray
  • ECG
  • 2D Echo
  • Stress-test
  • and others

*Note that hospitals now have strict protocols in accepting these requests. So, before going to the ER or the hospital, please ensure you have an appointment. Ultimately, wear a mask, face shield, and bring hand sanitizers.

Over To You

We only value health if sickness comes. Do you agree? Let’s not wait for it to get worse. Remember, GERD and Anxiety are both manageable and you can be cured.

Being sick mentally or physically is a dreadful experience. But our brain is so powerful; it tells us what to feel, what to do, and what to expect. So, if you are keen on being healthy physically, it is equally important to be healthy mentally, too.

Always give time for your health. If you feel anxious or sick, seek medical advice right away.

Do you have GERD or panic attacks, too? Let’s exchange thoughts in the comments below!

Special thanks to our Internist, Dr. Pacifico Gines, and her wife, Dr. Marianne Gines (Pediatrics) of Qualimed Sta. Rosa.

While we can include OTC (Over-The-Counter) medicines in this article, we decided not to as we do want to promote self-medication. If you feel anything unusual, please seek medical assistance.

Sources:

Healthline.com

Mayoclinic.org

Happy
Happy
0 %
Sad
Sad
0 %
Excited
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
Angry
0 %
Surprise
Surprise
0 %

Average Rating

5 Star
0%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

%d bloggers like this: