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It felt like there was hardly anyone in this world who was never anxious. However, be careful. Excessive anxiety and acid reflux that causes stomach ulcers to recur are actually related. According to a study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology in 2002, excessive anxiety can trigger digestive problems. Likewise, chronic heartburn can also make you experience excessive anxiety. So, what is the relationship between the two? Here's the explanation.
Excessive anxiety can be the cause of recurring heartburn
One of the most common symptoms of an ulcer is heartburn due to an increase in stomach acid into the esophagus (heartburn). This is because the ring muscle at the end of the esophagus is not functioning properly so it opens spontaneously. Other symptoms include difficulty swallowing, nausea, vomiting, and a burning sensation in the throat. Acid reflux can turn chronic if it continues 2-3 times per week. This condition is called GERD.
A study published in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics in 2007 found that people who are often anxious are two to four times more likely to develop GERD. Common symptoms of acid reflux that have been linked to anxiety include:
- Pain in the chest
- Difficulty swallowing
- Hoarseness, especially when you wake up
- Dry cough
- Mild throat pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Bad breath
When you are anxious, your stomach will produce three times more stomach acid than under normal conditions. Some experts believe that cholecystokinin - a chemical in the brain - plays a role in increasing the development of GERD in people with anxiety. Anxiety can also decrease the production of prostaglandins in the body. Prostaglandins are hormones that protect the stomach from acid reflux.
The study stated that the causes for the development of GERD cannot be explained medically. This means that a person can experience symptoms of indigestion, but there is no specific disease in the body.
Experts suspect this is caused by a change in behavior. This is because when someone is feeling anxious, they tend to engage in behaviors that can trigger or worsen their stomach, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, or eating fatty foods.
Conversely, people with digestive problems can also develop anxiety, especially if their stomach problems are severe. This condition can stimulate the vagus nerve in the esophagus and make a person more anxious. So it can be concluded that the effects of anxiety and gastric disorders influence each other.
So, what must be done to solve it?
It is imperative that you consult your doctor immediately if you experience mild to moderate digestive problems that have occurred for several days. Including if the heartburn recurs after a long time does not appear.
However, if the cause is anxiety, the first thing to do is treat your anxiety symptoms. There are several medications that may be prescribed to treat your anxiety symptoms. The doctor will prescribe certain drugs as well as recommend psychotherapy. The goal is to speed up the reduction in anxiety symptoms and prevent your anxiety from developing into ongoing stress.
In addition, there are some tips that can be done to prevent stress and maintain your stomach acid balance, including:
- Get regular exercise. Exercise can help relax tight muscles and help release natural hormones to keep you from stressing out. Also do some relaxation techniques such as yoga, tai chi, and your other favorite sports.
- Avoid trigger foods, such as chocolate, caffeine, citrus fruits, spicy foods, and fatty foods that can stimulate your stomach acid.
- Enough sleep. Lack of sleep can make you prone to stress. So, make the best use of your rest time and put your head higher while sleeping. This is useful for preventing the possibility of stomach acid rising during sleep.
- Laugh. Laughter is one of the best stress relievers. So, try to watch a funny movie or have fun with friends. This has proven to be effective in preventing you from anxiety as well as preventing heartburn from recurring.
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