If you’ve ever felt a burning sensation in your chest during a stressful moment, you’re not alone. Anxiety can do more than affect your thoughts. It can also take a toll on your digestive system. Many people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) notice their symptoms get worse during periods of stress or anxiety.
So, can anxiety cause GERD? While it doesn’t directly cause acid reflux, it can make symptoms more frequent, more intense, and harder to manage. Understanding how your brain and gut interact is the first step toward finding relief.
GERD is a digestive condition where stomach acid frequently flows back up into your esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. Acid reflux can be irritating to the lining of your esophagus and cause uncomfortable symptoms, including:
Anxiety is your body’s natural response to stress. When it becomes chronic, it can lead to physical symptoms, especially in your digestive system. Anxiety affects the nervous system and the gut-brain connection, which can disrupt normal digestive function.
While anxiety itself doesn’t cause acid reflux, it can increase the frequency and severity of GERD symptoms.
Anxiety doesn’t cause GERD. But, anxiety and GERD can make each other worse, resulting in:
Your gastroenterologist’s primary goal will be to control acid reflux symptoms and protect your esophagus. However, they will still recognize that anxiety may be part of the picture.
Managing GERD often starts with medications that reduce stomach acid and help your esophagus heal. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like omeprazole or pantoprazole are commonly prescribed for this purpose. For milder symptoms, your doctor may recommend H2 blockers, such as famotidine, instead.
Lifestyle changes also play a big role in treatment. You may be advised to eat smaller meals and avoid eating for two to three hours before lying down or going to bed. If you experience reflux at night, raising the head of your bed may provide relief.
Certain foods can trigger symptoms, so it’s helpful to cut back or avoid them altogether, including:
Finally, it’s essential to recognize the impact of stress and anxiety.
GI specialists don’t typically treat anxiety directly. But they often collaborate with other health professionals to address both issues together. Anxiety can be a trigger for GERD, so acknowledging and managing it is an important part of long-term digestive care.
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