Gastrocardiac syndrome can be triggered by factors including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), causing cardiac symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath and chest tightness, a clinic said.
Internet personality Holger Chen (陳之漢), commonly known as Kuan Chang (館長), recently revealed in his livestream that he has an illness that causes stomach discomfort and severely affects his sleep quality.
Chen said he was diagnosed with gastrocardiac syndrome, as he had chronic GERD and frequent heartburn, and the acid reflux has affected his autonomic nervous system, as well as the diaphragm and heart, causing him to have frequent hiccups, palpitations and arrhythmia.
Photo: CNA
TV talk show host Li Jing (利菁) has also revealed she has GERD and recently received an endoscopic cardial constriction procedure.
Li Jing said acid reflux had repeatedly damaged her esophagus and vocal cords, so at Far Eastern Memorial Hospital gastroenterologist Chung Chen-shuan’s (鍾承軒) recommendation, she received a minimally invasive surgery called an endoscopic cardial constriction to narrow the lower esophageal sphincter.
When GERD damages the esophageal mucosa or when gastric bloating causes pressure to the diaphragm or right atrium of the heart, the two conditions could cause vagal reflex abnormality, sometimes triggering irregular heartbeat, chest tightness, palpitations and shortness of breath, Ever Life Clinic said in a Facebook post.
When such patients receive cardiac health check-ups, such as a 24-hour Holter monitoring or an echocardiography, they are often found to have no abnormalities, and this condition can be called “gastrocardiac syndrome,” it said.
Three types of people are at higher risk of developing GERD, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said on its Web site.
The first is people who have “lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxation,” as the LES connects the esophagus to the stomach, acting as a muscular valve. So, when the LES is weak or becomes loose, it could lose its ability to close and block stomach acid and food from moving back (refluxing) into the esophagus, it said.
The second is “poor daily life habits,” including an irregular meal schedule; overeating; eating too fast; lying down right after finishing a meal; frequently drinking caffeinated or fizzy drinks, or alcoholic beverages; and eating food high in sugar or fat, or food that is too sour or spicy — as these eating habits could stimulate stomach acid production.
Smoking, staying up late, and having irregular work and rest schedules can also increase stomach acid production, leading to higher risk of GERD, it said.
Third, having “high risk factors” such as obesity, an apple-shaped body shape, or being pregnant could trigger GERD, as high intra-abdominal pressure can cause acid reflux, it said.
Anxiety and stress can also lead to excessive production of stomach acid, causing GERD, it said.
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