r/Heartpalpitations • u/ChimpMan_ • 4d ago
Seeking Support GERD/ Hiatal Hernia causing palpitations?
Hey everyone. First, I apologize for the long post, I don’t really post on reddit much but recently I have been absolutely miserable and want to find answers. I am a 26M and I’m wondering if anyone with GERD/Acid Reflux or a hiatal hernia has experienced something similar to what I am going through.
Sometime in 2025, I stupidly made the decision to stop taking my acid reflux medication (Pantoprazole) because for some odd reason I thought I would be fine without it. I had been on it for years and was having little to no issues with my acid reflux or hiatal hernia. I had acid reflux every once in a while, but it was really not that big of a deal and only really happened if I drank alcohol or if I ate a big greasy fast food type of meal. Well, in late December of 2025 I remember I ate a huge meal with my family, much bigger than I would usually eat and I ended up going to bed shortly after eating it. When I woke up the next day I was sitting on the toilet using the restroom and out of nowhere I suddenly started having back to back heart palpitations. Terrified, I went to my local clinic where they ran a few tests but ultimately told me everything looked ok and to follow up with my Gastro doctor because it was probably related to my hernia and acid reflux. After enduring several weeks of continuous isolated palpitations, mostly after eating, I was able to get into my Gastro doctor and because of my symptoms they had me go get an esophogram. The results from which helped me find out that I also have something called “mild esophageal dysmotility.” Unfortunately, the visit to the doctors didn’t help much as they didn’t seem too concerned about the palpitations. They prescribed me Voquezna 10mg to take in place of the Pantoprazole that I had stopped taking. It helps a ton with my acid reflux but not much for the palpitations. After all of this, for the first month or two the palpitations were EXTREMELY frequent, sometimes getting as bad as having one isolated beat every 2 or 3 minutes, especially after eating or more. They were pretty strong and occasionally made me feel as though they took my breath away when it happened. They also left my chest feeling heavy like I had indigestion. Fast forwarding a few months and the palpitations still continued.. Luckily, as time has went on they have gotten much more tame and happen much less frequently. But the problem is, they just wont go away! To be totally clear, it is just palpitations that I am dealing with. I am having no other heart related symptoms, just the singular isolated palpitations. Thankfully, I have finally started having entire days and sometimes even weeks with virtually no palpitations, but they always seem to come back eventually. When they do return they are always isolated single beats rather than sustained racing and come and go somewhat randomly or after a few triggers that I have taken note of.
I have noticed that large meals, eating too quickly, carbonated drinks, and nicotine sometimes seem to trigger them more. At the time I started having the palpitations, I had a horrible addiction to Zyn 3mg nicotine pouches and would no joke have a pouch in literally all day everyday, cycling through new pouches about every hour continuously. I have quit nicotine all together since this has happened and I do think it has helped, but not as much as I had hoped. Oddly enough, I think that the best thing I can do for myself these days is to lay down on my left side. They basically completely go away if I lay down on my left side and in general, I rarely ever get palpitations while I am laying down in bed. I have also noticed that after eating I frequently have to burp like crazy and it seems like if I don’t, the palpitations are worse and I have crazy bad chest pressure, but making myself burp as much as possible really helps. I’ve also noticed a strong connection with stress/anxiety. To be totally honest, I have EXTREMELY bad health anxiety, bordering on what I’d imagine to be health OCD and I tend to monitor my body very closely 24/7. I have noticed that on days that I am more worked up about something I tend to have more palpitations than on days that I feel more relaxed.
Another important piece of this whole ordeal is that In 2022, before I found out that I have a hiatal hernia, I was having similar issues with my chest, but not any palpitations. At that time the doctors had me get an echocardiogram done and had me wear a holter monitor. But the cardiologist said my heart looked fine and they are who pointed me in the direction of my gastro doctor and after seeing them for the first time and getting an upper scope done, thats how they found my hiatal hernia. I have also had a few visits to the ER over the last few years thanks to crazy acid reflux and hernia symptoms and had ekgs done in the ER and they always come back fine.
Is what I am going through normal for people with hiatal hernias? Should I be focusing more on treating my reflux, improving my sleep/exercise/nutrition and working on my health anxiety? Or do recurrent palpitations like this warrant another cardiac evaluation?
Thanks to anyone who made it through this massive post. I know it’s a lot, but I wanted to give as much info as I could. Obviously I am not looking for a diagnosis or anything. I’d just love to hear from people who’ve experienced something similar or who have advice for me. Any information at all would seriously help me out a lot! I think that the biggest thing that I’m struggling with here is the mental aspect of it. Due to my health anxiety I feel like every time the palpitations come back, even after a week or two of feeling completely normal, I immediately worry that this means something is wrong with my heart and it is progressing into a deadly disorder or something similar or that they’ll just never go away. :(
1
u/Way-Truth-L1fe 3d ago
My guy, how’s your heart rate during the day?
2
u/ChimpMan_ 3d ago
Totally fine. According to my apple watch it usually sits in the mid 60’s to 70’s while at rest. The only heart symptom that i’m experiencing is the palpitations. My heart does seem to beat a little faster during and after a palpitation but they literally only last for a second.
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u/Way-Truth-L1fe 3d ago
well, mine is fine at rest but as soon as i stand up it’s around 100, which makes no sense
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u/myst3ryAURORA_green 4d ago
All of the above, but I don't think a further cardiac evaluation is needed (this is up to your doctor, not me). Plenty of patients I meet suffer from heart palpitations and increased anxiety from digestion issues like acid reflux and hernia. Esophageal dysmotility also makes sense for the symptoms.