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What Causes Elevated Heart Rate When Suffering From Achalasia?
I am a 45 + year old female with achalasia. A year ago I had severe chest pain ( a half dozen times in a 5 month period) the chest pain woke me up in the night but would go away when I moved; the pain only lasted for very short periods of time. I was never breathless, nor did I feel my heart racing. Just intense pain that subside once awake and moving. My GP sent me to have a stress test, then a nuclear stress test. I was basically healthy, but the cardiologist said the upper chamber of my heart was not lighting up like he expected. My results were sent to my GP and who told me that I had mitral valve prolapse but I did not have to do anything. He thought the chest pain pain was Gerd and advised me to keep a record of it. Since then the chest pain that wakes me has only happened 3 times, but I have started getting very annoying heartburn for the last month. My resting heart rate hovers between 103 to 108. I am breathless at times, but nothing that terrible, and my difficulty swallowing is much worse. Is my elevated resting heart rate something I should worry about? I plan to have an endoscopy to check on my achalasia; my gastrointestinal doctor usually dialates my esophagus. Much to my Gastro doctor s dismay, I am not interested in having surgery for the achalasia, but I am interested to know if my heart is being affected by the achalasia or vise versa? (I was diagnosed with achalasia in my 20 s. I do not have chagas disease.)
Tue, 20 Jun 2023
Hi,
Achalasia is a rare disorder that affects the esophagus, the muscular tube that connects the throat to the stomach. It is characterized by the inability of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to relax properly, causing difficulty in swallowing and the passage of food into the stomach. While achalasia primarily affects the esophagus, it can indirectly lead to certain symptoms, including an elevated heart rate.
The exact mechanism behind the association between achalasia and an elevated heart rate is not fully understood. However, some of the possible explanations for this sort of physiological response are:
* Autonomic Dysfunction: The autonomic nervous system controls various involuntary functions in the body, including heart rate regulation. In individuals with achalasia, there may be some dysfunction or imbalance in the autonomic nervous system, leading to an increased heart rate. This dysregulation can result from the underlying disruption in esophageal function and the abnormal signals sent to the autonomic nervous system.
* Emotional Stress: Achalasia can cause significant discomfort and distress due to difficulty swallowing and related symptoms. This chronic stress and anxiety can trigger an increase in sympathetic nervous system activity, which can elevate heart rate and blood pressure.
* Nutritional Deficiencies: Achalasia can lead to difficulties in consuming an adequate amount of food and nutrients. Malnutrition and dehydration resulting from poor dietary intake can contribute to an increased heart rate. When the body lacks essential nutrients, it may try to compensate by increasing heart rate to maintain adequate circulation.
An elevated heart rate in achalasia can also be influenced by various other factors such as comorbidities, medications, or individual physiological differences. If you're experiencing an elevated heart rate or any concerning symptoms associated with achalasia, consult with a healthcare professional will be able to provide a more accurate diagnosis and guidance tailored to your specific situation.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Muhammad Umer Farooq, General & Family Physician
Achalasia is a rare disorder that affects the esophagus, the muscular tube that connects the throat to the stomach. It is characterized by the inability of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to relax properly, causing difficulty in swallowing and the passage of food into the stomach. While achalasia primarily affects the esophagus, it can indirectly lead to certain symptoms, including an elevated heart rate.
The exact mechanism behind the association between achalasia and an elevated heart rate is not fully understood. However, some of the possible explanations for this sort of physiological response are:
* Autonomic Dysfunction: The autonomic nervous system controls various involuntary functions in the body, including heart rate regulation. In individuals with achalasia, there may be some dysfunction or imbalance in the autonomic nervous system, leading to an increased heart rate. This dysregulation can result from the underlying disruption in esophageal function and the abnormal signals sent to the autonomic nervous system.
* Emotional Stress: Achalasia can cause significant discomfort and distress due to difficulty swallowing and related symptoms. This chronic stress and anxiety can trigger an increase in sympathetic nervous system activity, which can elevate heart rate and blood pressure.
* Nutritional Deficiencies: Achalasia can lead to difficulties in consuming an adequate amount of food and nutrients. Malnutrition and dehydration resulting from poor dietary intake can contribute to an increased heart rate. When the body lacks essential nutrients, it may try to compensate by increasing heart rate to maintain adequate circulation.
An elevated heart rate in achalasia can also be influenced by various other factors such as comorbidities, medications, or individual physiological differences. If you're experiencing an elevated heart rate or any concerning symptoms associated with achalasia, consult with a healthcare professional will be able to provide a more accurate diagnosis and guidance tailored to your specific situation.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Muhammad Umer Farooq, General & Family Physician
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