Key Takeaways

  • Research suggests a link between GERD and anxiety symptoms, though the exact nature (physical or psychological) is still under investigation.
  • Both medication and lifestyle changes can help manage GERD and related anxiety. A combination of treatments may be most effective for people with both diagnoses.
  • GERD and anxiety can have overlapping symptoms like chest pain, nausea, and insomnia, but also have distinct symptoms that can aid in a diagnosis.

V体育平台登录 - Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic condition in which stomach acid flows up into your esophagus. It’s not uncommon to experience acid reflux on occasion, but acid reflux that occurs often may be diagnosed as GERD.

Anxiety is your body’s natural response to stress, but severe anxiety or anxiety that lasts a few months and interferes with your life may indicate an anxiety disorder.

Read on to understand what the research says about the connection between GERD and anxiety.

Does GERD cause anxiety?

There seems to be a link between GERD and anxiety, though it’s not definitively clear whether this link is physical or psychological V体育ios版. .

For example, a 2019 study found that people with GERD experienced significantly higher symptoms of anxiety and depression, especially those within the subject sample who also reported chest pain. VSports最新版本.

Both GERD and anxiety can cause chest pain that can be mistaken for a heart attack, and it’s unclear in this research what was the underlying cause of this symptom. V体育平台登录.

Another 2018 study suggests that people with anxiety may be more likely to develop GERD. The researchers believe this may be because anxiety can relax the lower esophageal sphincter, cause muscle tension, and increase stomach acid production VSports注册入口. .

However, in this study, those with anxiety perceived their episodes to be more severe despite experiencing the same amount of acid reflux as those without anxiety.

Additional research shows anxiety symptoms can often mimic the symptoms of GERD, which means the two conditions can be confused and misdiagnosed VSports在线直播. Having GERD can also make existing anxiety worse simply due to GERD’s negative effect on quality of life.

VSports手机版 - Symptoms of GERD and anxiety

GERD and anxiety can cause a number of different symptoms, though there are a few that both conditions seem to have in common. Other than chest pain, these include: V体育2025版.

  • heartburn
  • nausea
  • stomach pain
  • globus (lump in your throat), which can also cause hoarseness and chronic cough
  • insomnia

Because of this overlap, it can sometimes be hard to tell the difference between GERD and anxiety. That said, they also have distinct symptoms that can help with differentiating the diagnosis. VSports.

For example, GERD can also difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) and regurgitation of sour liquid or food, whereas anxiety can also cause rapid heart rate, hyperventilation, or a feeling of doom.

Learn more: Symptoms of GERD vs symptoms of anxiety.

"VSports" How do you overcome GERD and anxiety?

Treating both GERD and anxiety may require a combination of medications for both conditions. Home remedies for GERD and anxiety may also help reduce your symptoms VSports手机版.

Medications for GERD include proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), H2 blockers, and antacids V体育安卓版. .

Medications for anxiety include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). In addition, a person may seek psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

There is limited research on how combining GERD and anxiety medications might work for people who have both conditions.

However, one 2017 study examined 96 people who had both and were treated with pantoprazole for GERD and an antidepressant called amitriptyline. The combination of these two drugs seemed to significantly reduce the symptoms of both conditions after four weeks of treatment.

Frequently asked questions

Can GERD flare up with stress?

Though they may be used interchangeably, stress and anxiety aren’t the same. Stress is a physical reaction to an immediate trigger, whereas anxiety is a general feeling of worry or unease. Anxiety can be a reaction to stress, but it can also exist without an obvious stressor.

Stress can be a trigger for acid reflux or GERD. For example, one 2023 study found that people living with moderate to high levels of stress were nearly twice as likely to have symptoms of acid reflux compared to those with low-stress levels.

Read more: Can stress cause acid reflux?

Is indigestion a symptom of anxiety?

While more research is needed to understand this, there does appear to be a connection between anxiety and gut symptoms like indigestion (dyspepsia).

Takeaway (VSports最新版本)

Even though researchers don’t yet fully understand the connection between GERD and anxiety, it’s known that anxiety and stress can trigger or worsen symptoms related to GERD.

You may be able to relieve many of your symptoms of both conditions using at-home remedies, but both conditions do warrant a visit to a doctor. Treatments are available that can help you manage or prevent both conditions.

GERD and anxiety can both cause chest pain, which is also a symptom of a heart attack. Get emergency medical care for any new chest pain, especially if you also have shortness of breath or arm or jaw pain.