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Heartburn and ibs. Living with IBS and GERD: Understanding the Connection and Managing Symptoms

by alexxlab

How are IBS and GERD linked. What are the common symptoms of IBS and GERD. How can diet and lifestyle changes help manage both conditions. What treatment options are available for IBS and GERD. How does stress affect IBS and GERD symptoms. Can cognitive behavioral therapy help alleviate IBS symptoms. What is the low-FODMAP diet and how can it benefit people with IBS.

The Prevalence and Connection Between IBS and GERD

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) are two common digestive disorders that often occur together. Research has shown a strong link between these conditions, with studies indicating that individuals diagnosed with IBS are at a higher risk of experiencing GERD symptoms.

A study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology analyzed data from over 6,000 people and found that approximately 63% of those diagnosed with IBS also experienced GERD symptoms. The research further revealed that the combination of both conditions was more prevalent in women and resulted in more severe symptoms overall.

Dr. Maged Rizk, a gastroenterologist and director of the Chronic Abdominal Pain Center at the Cleveland Clinic, confirms this connection, stating, “If you combine the results of all the studies, GERD is probably about 4 times more common in people with IBS.”

Understanding IBS and GERD

IBS affects up to 20% of the population and is characterized by abdominal pain occurring at least three times a month for a minimum of three months, without any underlying disease or injury. GERD, on the other hand, causes acid reflux and regurgitation, with about 7% of individuals experiencing these symptoms daily.

Hypothetical Links Between IBS and GERD

While the exact connection between IBS and GERD is not fully understood, several hypotheses have been proposed:

  • Increased sensitivity of the digestive system (visceral hypersensitivity)
  • Gastrointestinal motility disorders
  • Stress and food sensitivities

Dr. Rizk explains, “People with GERD and IBS become uncomfortable at a lower threshold than people without these conditions. We call that visceral hypersensitivity.” This increased sensitivity may contribute to the overlapping symptoms experienced by individuals with both conditions.

The Role of Stress in IBS and GERD

Stress plays a significant role in both IBS and GERD. The strong connection between mental and digestive stress can exacerbate symptoms of both conditions. Managing stress through relaxation techniques and lifestyle changes can help alleviate symptoms and improve overall quality of life for individuals living with IBS and GERD.

How does stress impact IBS and GERD symptoms?

Stress can trigger or worsen symptoms of both IBS and GERD by:
1. Increasing muscle tension in the digestive tract
2. Altering gut motility
3. Enhancing perception of pain and discomfort
4. Affecting the gut-brain axis, which regulates digestive function

Dietary Approaches for Managing IBS and GERD

Diet plays a crucial role in managing symptoms of both IBS and GERD. Adopting specific dietary strategies can help alleviate discomfort and reduce the frequency of symptoms.

The Low-FODMAP Diet for IBS

The low-FODMAP diet has shown promising results in improving IBS symptoms. This dietary approach involves eliminating foods high in certain carbohydrates called FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols).

A review published in the journal Gastroenterology & Hepatology found that 50 to 86 percent of people with IBS experienced improvement in their symptoms when following a low-FODMAP diet. This approach can be particularly beneficial for individuals dealing with both IBS and GERD.

Trigger Foods for GERD

For individuals with GERD, certain foods are known to trigger symptoms. Common trigger foods include:

  • Fatty or fried foods
  • Tomato sauce
  • Chocolate
  • Mint
  • Garlic
  • Onions
  • Alcohol
  • Caffeine

Identifying and avoiding these trigger foods can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of GERD symptoms.

Lifestyle Modifications for Symptom Relief

In addition to dietary changes, several lifestyle modifications can help manage symptoms of both IBS and GERD:

  1. Maintaining a healthy weight
  2. Quitting smoking
  3. Avoiding tight clothing
  4. Elevating the head of the bed
  5. Not lying down immediately after meals
  6. Eating food slowly and mindfully

These simple changes can have a significant impact on reducing the frequency of acid reflux and alleviating IBS symptoms.

Treatment Options for IBS and GERD

While lifestyle and dietary modifications are essential, medical treatments may also be necessary to manage symptoms effectively. Dr. Rizk suggests that each condition can be treated separately with medications.

Medications for GERD

Common medications used to treat GERD include:
1. Antacids for quick relief of heartburn
2. H2 blockers to reduce stomach acid production
3. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for long-term acid suppression

Medications for IBS

Treatments for IBS may include:
1. Antispasmodic medications to relieve abdominal pain and cramping
2. Anti-diarrheal medications for IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D)
3. Laxatives for IBS with constipation (IBS-C)
4. Anti-anxiety medications to address stress-related symptoms

The Potential of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for IBS

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has shown promise in alleviating IBS symptoms. This form of psychotherapy can help individuals manage stress and change thought patterns that may contribute to IBS symptoms.

How does CBT help with IBS symptoms?

CBT can benefit individuals with IBS by:
1. Teaching stress management techniques
2. Addressing anxiety and depression associated with IBS
3. Helping patients develop coping strategies for pain and discomfort
4. Improving the body’s stress response, which may reduce symptom severity

Research has shown that CBT can be particularly effective when combined with other treatment approaches, such as dietary modifications and medications.

The Importance of Individualized Treatment Plans

Given the complex nature of IBS and GERD and their frequent co-occurrence, it’s crucial to develop individualized treatment plans. What works for one person may not be as effective for another, and a combination of approaches is often necessary to achieve optimal symptom relief.

Key components of an effective treatment plan

An effective treatment plan for managing both IBS and GERD may include:
1. Dietary modifications tailored to individual triggers
2. Stress management techniques
3. Appropriate medications as prescribed by a healthcare provider
4. Regular exercise and physical activity
5. Adequate sleep and relaxation
6. Ongoing monitoring and adjustment of the treatment plan as needed

By working closely with healthcare providers and implementing a comprehensive approach to managing both conditions, individuals living with IBS and GERD can significantly improve their quality of life and reduce the impact of symptoms on their daily activities.

Future Directions in IBS and GERD Research

As our understanding of the connection between IBS and GERD continues to grow, researchers are exploring new avenues for treatment and management of these conditions. Some promising areas of research include:

  • The role of gut microbiota in IBS and GERD
  • Novel pharmacological treatments targeting specific pathways in the digestive system
  • The potential of personalized medicine in managing IBS and GERD
  • Advanced diagnostic tools for better differentiation and treatment of symptoms

These ongoing research efforts may lead to more effective treatments and improved quality of life for individuals living with both IBS and GERD in the future.

Emerging therapies for IBS and GERD

Some of the emerging therapies being investigated include:
1. Probiotics and prebiotics to modulate gut microbiota
2. Targeted dietary interventions based on individual gut microbiome profiles
3. Novel drug therapies that address both motility and sensitivity issues
4. Mind-body interventions, such as gut-directed hypnotherapy

As research in this field progresses, it is likely that we will see more personalized and effective treatment options for individuals dealing with both IBS and GERD.

Living Well with IBS and GERD: Practical Tips and Strategies

Managing both IBS and GERD can be challenging, but there are several practical strategies that can help individuals cope with their symptoms and improve their overall quality of life:

Meal planning and preparation

Effective meal planning can help minimize symptoms:
1. Plan meals in advance to ensure a balanced diet
2. Prepare meals at home to control ingredients and portion sizes
3. Keep a food diary to identify personal trigger foods
4. Experiment with different cooking methods (e.g., grilling instead of frying)
5. Consider meal prepping to reduce stress around mealtimes

Stress management techniques

Incorporating stress-reducing activities into daily life can be beneficial:
1. Practice mindfulness meditation
2. Engage in regular physical exercise
3. Try deep breathing exercises
4. Pursue hobbies and enjoyable activities
5. Maintain social connections and seek support when needed

Sleep hygiene

Improving sleep quality can positively impact both IBS and GERD symptoms:
1. Establish a consistent sleep schedule
2. Create a relaxing bedtime routine
3. Avoid large meals close to bedtime
4. Use a wedge pillow or elevate the head of the bed for GERD relief
5. Limit screen time before bed

Communication with healthcare providers

Maintaining open communication with healthcare providers is crucial:
1. Keep track of symptoms and their triggers
2. Report any changes in symptoms or concerns promptly
3. Discuss the effectiveness of current treatments
4. Ask about new treatment options or clinical trials
5. Seek a second opinion if symptoms are not well-controlled

By implementing these practical strategies and working closely with healthcare providers, individuals living with both IBS and GERD can better manage their symptoms and improve their overall well-being. Remember that finding the right combination of treatments and lifestyle modifications may take time, but with persistence and patience, it is possible to achieve significant symptom relief and lead a fulfilling life despite these challenging conditions.

Living With IBS and GERD

If you have irritable bowel syndrome, research shows that you are much more at risk for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Learn about both conditions and symptom management that may help.

By Chris Iliades, MDMedically Reviewed by Kareem Sassi, MD

Reviewed:

Medically Reviewed

IBS affects the lower GI tract and GERD occurs when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus.iStock; Everyday Health

In the alphabet soup of digestive disorders, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) aren’t just problematic on their own — they often occur together.

IBS causes belly pain along with changes in bowel habits, either diarrhea or constipation. GERD causes acid reflux, commonly referred to as heartburn. Having one of these conditions can be bad enough, but many people have to deal with both.

Several studies have found a strong link between GERD and IBS. A study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology looked at data on more than 6,000 people and found that about 63 percent of those diagnosed with IBS had GERD symptoms, too. The research also showed that having both GERD and IBS was more common in women and that having both conditions made all symptoms worse.

A study published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology found that the odds of having GERD symptoms was 4 times higher for people living with IBS than those without IBS.

“Is there a link between IBS and GERD? Absolutely,” says Maged Rizk, MD, a gastroenterologist and the director of the Chronic Abdominal Pain Center at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. “I see it all the time in our clinic. If you combine the results of all the studies, GERD is probably about 4 times more common in people with IBS.”

How Are IBS and GERD Linked?

Both IBS and GERD are extremely common. You may be diagnosed with IBS, which affects up to 20 percent of people, if you have symptoms of abdominal pain at least three times a month for at least three months, and that pain cannot be explained by any disease or injury. GERD causes acid reflux and regurgitation; about 7 percent of people with the condition experience these symptoms on a daily basis.

“The links between GERD and IBS are mostly hypothetical but probably involve an increased sensitivity of the digestive system,” Dr. Rizk says. “People with GERD and IBS become uncomfortable at a lower threshold than people without these conditions. We call that visceral hypersensitivity.”

Another link between IBS and GERD symptoms may be gastrointestinal motility, referring to the process of moving food through the digestive system. If the movements are disordered, it’s called motility disorder. Some experts now consider both IBS and GERD to be motility disorders.

“Stress and food sensitivities may be other links,” Rizk says. “There is a strong link between mental stress and digestive stress. Stress is a known trigger for both IBS and GERD symptoms.”

Treatment Options for GERD and IBS

Rizk says that diet and lifestyle changes that reduce stress should benefit both IBS and GERD. “An elimination diet that starts with very bland and simple foods and then introduces new food groups in stages may help identify foods that trigger symptoms,” Rizk says. “Each condition may also be treated separately with medications. Antacid and acid-blocking medications are often used for GERD. Antispasmodic medications and anti-anxiety medications may be used for IBS.”

Some studies suggest that following a low-FODMAP diet helps improve IBS symptoms. This involves eliminating foods that are high in certain carbohydrates called FODMAPs, or fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols.

A review published in January 2017 in the journal Gastroenterology & Hepatology found that 50 to 86 percent of people with IBS show improvement in their symptoms on a low-FODMAP diet.

Trigger foods for GERD include fatty or fried foods, tomato sauce, chocolate, mint, garlic, onions, alcohol, and caffeine.

Stress management and relaxation techniques to calm anxiety may also help ease symptoms of IBS and GERD. Maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, avoiding tight clothing, elevating the head of your bed, not lying down after a meal, and eating food slowly can all reduce the frequency of acid reflux.

RELATED: The Business of a Diet

Additional reporting by Ashley Welch.

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IBS and Acid Reflux

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that affects the large intestine, or colon. Symptoms usually include abdominal pain, cramps, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and gas. Other symptoms of IBS may include urgent bowel movements or the feeling of incomplete evacuation.

The bowel muscles that are responsible for moving food through the intestinal tract may contract more forcefully or more irregularly in patients with IBS. This pushes food through the system abnormally. If waste material moves too fast it can cause diarrhea. If it moves too slow it can cause constipation.

Although it may make you uncomfortable, IBS doesn’t cause inflammation, nor will it permanently damage the colon.

Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) is a disease that may cause significant damage to the tissues and cells of the esophagus over time. It’s the chronic form of acid reflux.

GERD occurs when stomach acids back up into the esophagus due to a poor-functioning lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES is a band of muscle that acts as a valve between the esophagus and the stomach.

The main symptom of both acid reflux and GERD is frequent heartburn. Other symptoms may include burning in the throat or a sour liquid taste in back of the mouth.

While occasional acid reflux is normal, GERD symptoms are persistent and typically require treatment to relieve symptoms such as coughing, sore throat, and difficulty swallowing.

IBS is classified as a functional disorder. This is a condition in which symptoms are real, but physiological causes aren’t easily identifiable. Although the causes of IBS are unknown, it’s frequently exacerbated by stress.

IBS also often accompanies GERD. This dual presentation suggests that the two conditions may share common disease mechanisms, but these are not well understood.

One mechanism may be poor muscle function of the intestinal tract. Some experts suspect there may be an incoordination of the muscles that line the esophagus, stomach, and intestines, contributing to symptoms of both IBS and acid reflux.

Another observation is that individuals with both IBS and GERD report more sleep difficulties and more episodes of abdominal pain than people who just have IBS or GERD alone.

However, IBS is a complicated condition and less well-understood than GERD. Experts believe there are a variety of individual, intestinal, and environmental factors that contribute to IBS. This makes the relationship between GERD and IBS even more complicated.

Different stimuli may trigger IBS symptoms in different people. For instance, in one person things like intestinal infection or medication may cause symptoms, while other people may react to certain foods or stress.

Women are more likely than men to suffer from IBS. Often, women will find that IBS symptoms are worse during menstruation. This has led researchers to believe that hormones may play a role in the development of IBS.

Perhaps not surprisingly, IBS and acid reflux are often triggered by the same kinds of foods. Those suffering from one or both conditions may find relief by avoiding the following:

  • alcoholic beverages
  • caffeinated beverages, such as coffee
  • carbonated beverages, such as colas
  • chocolate
  • citrus fruits
  • fatty and fried foods
  • garlic and onions
  • spicy foods
  • tomato-based foods, such as pizza and spaghetti sauces
  • certain sugars like high fructose corn syrup and lactose
  • certain sugar alcohols like sorbitol and xylitol

If trigger foods include dairy products such as milk, cheese, or ice cream, the problem may be lactose intolerance, not IBS. People who have cramping or bloating after only eating dairy products should stop eating these foods for a period of two weeks to see if symptoms subside. If symptoms subside after avoiding dairy, speak with your doctor about the possibility of lactose intolerance. If other non-lactose foods in addition to dairy aggravate your symptoms, you are more likely to have IBS.

While medications may provide relief in many cases, the preferred treatment for most people suffering from both acid reflux and IBS is lifestyle and dietary modification.

In addition to avoiding certain foods, people with IBS or GERD may find relief by losing weight, quitting smoking, and learning stress-reduction techniques such as deep breathing, exercise, or yoga.

Although lifestyle and dietary changes can benefit many people with IBS, if you have GERD symptoms as well, certain medications may help:

  • Proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole, are the drugs of choice for GERD sufferers.
  • Antacids may be enough to relieve symptoms for people with occasional mild acid reflux.
  • Anti-gas medications like simethicone (Gas-X) can work for occasional gas, bloating, and indigestion.

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Medications that focus on the management of IBS vary greatly depending on whether the main symptoms are constipation, diarrhea, or both. Your doctor can help guide your treatment.

If you have symptoms of GERD, IBS, or other intestinal problems, see your doctor for a thorough exam. Depending on your symptoms, you will likely need evaluation and testing to determine your diagnosis and which treatment options are best for you.

Coronary heart disease – CHI “RZD-Medicine” Sayansky town

Coronary heart disease is a chronic (long-term, ongoing), constantly progressive heart disease. It includes such forms as angina pectoris, arrhythmias, heart failure, myocardial infarction, etc.

Coronary heart disease is one of the most common diseases in the world today

Unfortunately for doctors and patients, the treatment of this “disease of the century” with drugs is not effective enough. forces to “dissolve” the cholesterol plaque inside the heart vessel. Over the years, the plaque grows, impeding blood flow, and the prospect of myocardial infarction becomes threatening. Coronary artery bypass grafting is required – the most difficult surgical operation. Unrest of loved ones, long months of recovery, the frightening word “disability” …

Why does coronary heart disease occur?

With age, deposits of fatty substances such as cholesterol appear along the inner lining of the coronary arteries. These fatty deposits are called atherosclerotic plaques. Over time, they grow, narrowing the lumen of the artery and making it difficult for blood to flow to the heart muscle. As a result, atherosclerotic plaques impede the flow of blood to the heart muscle, which is signaled to us by retrosternal pain – angina pectoris. This is how coronary heart disease develops.

Signs of coronary heart disease

With coronary heart disease, signs of cardiac dysfunction develop – pain attacks in the heart area, interruptions in heart contractions, changes in the electrocardiogram are noted.

It must be borne in mind that coronary artery disease is a disease that progresses very slowly. And it is very important to identify the disease at the initial stages of development.

An important diagnostic sign of coronary heart disease is a feeling of discomfort in the chest or back, which occurs during walking, a certain physical or emotional load and disappears after the cessation of this load. A characteristic sign of angina pectoris is also the rapid disappearance of discomfort after taking nitroglycerin (10-15 seconds).

Attacks of retrosternal pain are perceived by some patients as discomfort, by others as pressing, squeezing or burning pain (sometimes it is also regarded as heartburn). A characteristic symptom of coronary heart disease, when the pain “radiates” to the left shoulder or left arm. The pain can “give” also to the neck, and to the right side in the shoulder and arm, to the interscapular space.

  • Fatigue and muscle weakness.
  • Feeling short of breath.
  • Shortness of breath on exertion and palpitations.
  • The appearance of edema on the feet and legs by the end of the day.
  • Possibly nausea and loss of appetite.

In recent years, the number of cases of sudden death in patients with coronary artery disease has increased. Damage to the arteries supplying the heart leads to their stenosis and obstruction; as a result, the blood supply to the heart muscle is disrupted.

What contributes to the development of coronary heart disease?

  • arterial hypertension (high blood pressure over 140/90 mmHg)
  • sedentary lifestyle
  • overweight/malnutrition
  • tobacco smoking
  • poor heredity (for example, hypertension or myocardial infarction in relatives)
  • diabetes mellitus
  • excessive psycho-emotional stress, frequent stressful situations.

How to diagnose coronary heart disease?

To make an accurate diagnosis, you must first consult your doctor.

Your attending physician will carefully examine the causes and development of the disease, prescribe tests necessary to confirm the diagnosis.

Everyone should take the following steps to reduce their risk of heart disease:

  • Eating a healthy diet is the most important step in risk reduction.
  • Exercise regularly: this will reduce the risk of disease. Exercise strengthens the heart and helps it work more efficiently.
  • Quit smoking
  • Control your cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
  • Watch your weight. Overweight, and even more so obesity, contributes to the development of coronary heart disease.
  • Try to avoid stress.
  • Monitor your blood pressure. An increase in pressure puts a serious strain on the heart.
  • Get regular check-ups.

SAVE YOUR HEART AND LIVE LONG!

The doctor called heart disease a possible cause of heartburn and sore throat – Gazeta.

Ru

The doctor called heart disease a possible cause of heartburn and sore throat – Gazeta.Ru | News

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Cardiovascular disease is often disguised as symptoms that an untrained person is unlikely to associate with the heart. So, talking about heart disease can, for example, snoring, sore throat and heartburn. Maxim Maskin, a therapist, gastroenterologist and chief physician of the Hemotest Laboratory, told Gazeta.Ru about this.

According to the expert, the first atypical symptom of heart problems may be tinnitus and flies in the eyes. This can manifest itself as hypertension, which, if left untreated, can lead to heart failure, heart attack and coronary heart disease. Also, hypertension can be suspected by nausea, dizziness, insomnia.

“Loud snoring with apnea – repeated episodes of breath holding for 10 seconds or longer should also be a cause for concern. During such stops of breathing, the cells of the body do not receive oxygen, hypoxia develops. As a result, the load on the vessels and the heart increases, arrhythmia, ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction may develop, ”the therapist warned.

Warning signals indicating problems with the heart are also sharp shooting pain in the jaw, aching pain in the teeth or in the throat. This may be a sign of a heart attack – angina pectoris.

“This is the so-called radiating pain – nerve impulses from a diseased organ propagate through nerve fibers to healthy ones. So, with angina pectoris, many patients do not feel discomfort in the chest, but complain of pain on the left side – in the arm, shoulder, under the shoulder blade, in the lower jaw and even in the throat, ”said Maxim Maskin.

He noted that sometimes heart disease also masquerades as poisoning or a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. As in the case of aching toothache due to a heart attack, stomach pain is a radiating pain. It seems to a person that the stomach hurts, but in fact there are problems with the heart.

“The main difference between heart symptoms and true heartburn or gastritis is that the pain appears regardless of meals and body position. In case of a heart attack, the pain is squeezing, antispasmodics or heartburn medicines will not help from it, ”the gastroenterologist explained.

May indicate heart problems and wen on the face, neck and arms. They may indicate disorders of fat or lipid metabolism in the body.

“If fats are digested incorrectly, the concentration of “bad” cholesterol in the blood increases. These are large fat-like substances that stick to the walls of blood vessels and form atherosclerotic plaques. This is how atherosclerosis develops, which leads to strokes and heart attacks. Therefore, if xanthomas appear frequently and there are many of them, it is important to tell the doctor about it, ”the therapist recommended.

An unexplained prolonged cough can also be a warning sign of heart disease.