Hi Claudia,

If your stomach is churning, it could send a signal to the brain that your body is experiencing something it doesn't like and could cause the fast heart rate.

You can read about GERD here in the overview and you can check your symptoms here in the symptoms database. Once you have seen your doctor, if he prescribes medication for GERD, you can read about them here in the drugs database. You can also research treatments available and alternatives here in the treatments database.

Also, stress is a trigger you might have. Tracy Davenport had an article here about psychological stress and it's effect on GERD. Ladyisis had a posting located here, where she was dealing with many different issues, acid reflux and stress being two of them. You can read the advice that was given to her and her responses.

There are some things you can do to help the acid reflux and see if that in turn reduces the rapid heartbeat. Here are some tips that you might find helpful.

Acid Reflux Diet

• First of all, try to eat small, frequent meals instead of three big meals a day. Small amounts of food each time would exert less workload on the stomach and therefore requires less acid secretion for digestion. Make sure to include foods that are high in complex carbohydrates in each meal. These foods, such as rice, breads and pasta, are able to tie up excess stomach acid and are often easy on the stomach.
• Avoid high-fat meals such as those from the fast food chains. High fat foods will remain in the stomach longer, thus causing the need for more stomach acid in order to digest them.
• But remember, don't overeat! Eating too much of any foods will stimulate the stomach to secret more acids for digestion.
• Avoid or limit alcohol
• Maintain upright position during and at least 45 minutes after eating

I hope you find this helpful. Take care and stay in touch and let us know how you are doing!

Vicki M