I'm frequently asked if acid reflux can feel like a heart attack. It absolutely can and that occurs due to two main reasons.

Anatomy, or geography, is one reason - the stomach, esophagus and heart lie very close to one another. Therefore the burning of acid up into the esophagus can be felt in the chest and surrounding area, therefore mimicking a heart attack. Even pressure in the chest, which occurs with a heart attack, can happen with reflux.

There is another reason which relates to your nervous system. The vagus nerve,  your longest cranial nerve, travels to your heart, lungs, esophagus, stomach and the rest of your digestive tract.

There is a reflex when connects the heart to the esophagus, as well as the heart to the stomach: the cardioesophageal and cardiogastric reflexes, respectively.

An "irritation" to the heart occurs due to these reflexes and it is not innocent. It factually compromises blood flow to your heart which can result in ischemia (lack of blood flow) and an increased risk of heart attack.

I don't say this to scare you, but acid reflux should not be ignored because long-term it IS creating damage to your heart potentially.

If you need help addressing acid reflux naturally, we are happy to help. You can call us for a consultation and we'll help to determine if what we do is a good fit for your needs. Call 727-335-0400.

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