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Gastroenterology  (Expert Forum)
 | 
H Pylori and irregular heart beat
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
Kevin, M.D. Boston - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
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MedHelp Member's Question

H Pylori and irregular heart beat

by cuprex, Oct 25, 2005 12:00AM
Hi Yoshi 2 years or so ago I was asking about irregular heart beat..

You had told me H Pylori due to the swimming I was doing, like an idiot instead of following up on your advice, my cardioligist convinced me there was no connection..

Yeh Right!!! I read the Italian study and I absolutly had the H Pylori... So I guess you were spot on...

So Acifex and the 2 antibiotics for 10 days and even chewing some mastic gum to make sure..

I could not believe that it actually dissapeared, but after 3 weeks it seems to have come back..

I havnt tested for H Pylori, but Im interested to know if perhaps its the acid..

Is it possible that the H Pylori and the acid weaken the integretary of the stomach wall and

expose the Vagas to react because of the stomach.. Like cold water, kind of touching the Vagas and setting off the irregular phase....

I have a slight hiatial hernia
Doctor's Answer

by Kevin Pho, MD, Oct 26, 2005 12:00AM
Either acid or a return of H Pylori is possible.



You can be tested for H Pylori with a stool test or breath test.  There are different eradication rates based on different antibiotic regimens - if it persists, you can consider changing the regimen.  



If there is concern about stomach acid, you can consider an upper endoscopy or 24-hr pH study for further evaluation.  If acid persists, you can consider optimizing your PPI regimen, or adding on an H2 blocker or Reglan.  



Regarding the irregular heart beat - it may be possible that GERD may exacerbate palpitations.  For further evaluation, you can consider an echocardiogram or perhaps an event/Holter monitor to further evaluate the symptoms.



These options can be discussed with your personal physician.



Followup with your personal physician is essential.



This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.



Kevin, M.D.

http://www.straightfromthedoc.com
Member Comments (12)

by cuprex, Oct 25, 2005 12:00AM
To: Yoshi or ???
What would you recommend that is as effective as Acifex but cheaper..

I need a daily acid inhibitor...

by Med Help, Oct 26, 2005 12:00AM
To: Cuprex
We do not know who "Yoshi" is.  The only person who answers questions in this forum is Kevin Pho, M.D.



Med Help International

by yoshi, Oct 26, 2005 12:00AM
I am not a doctor,but a person who suffers from acid reflux.

I have tried zantac,nexium,prilosec,prevacid,alka selzer,gasx,extra strength gas x,galvescon,tums,baking soda and more.

Today,I watch what I eat and I pay attention to what is safe to eat and what is not-no one is perfect,so if I  have an urge to eat the sinful ones,I will eat them early in the day and if I am going out to eat,I take a nexium one hour beforehand.

Since I work from home,I eat my lunch early and chew gum during the day(your saliva contains bicarbonate) and eat one RED DELCIOUS apple.

I will snack on something before 6 pm and try not to eat 3 hours before bedtime.

If you must eat something before bedtime,make it alkaline (not acidic) like soda cracker ,something which is alkaline,and does not linger long in your stomach,so it has to be easy to digest,and a T-BONE STEAK is not something easy to digest.

I found out about red delicious apple from a site -this guy has tried everything and he stumbled upon this apple,he said it must be red declious ,not granny or fuji or other .

I took his advice and it sure works,it may have something to do with the alkaline nature and the potassium etc it contains which contract the stomach tissues.

All these nexium,prevacid of the world have side effects,so I tried not to take them daily.

You can google and get a list of food which is alkaline vs acidic and food which you should avoid-food which is acidic,food which is hard to digest etc .

Goodluck!

By the way,stress and constipation can make your situation worse.

by yoshi, Oct 26, 2005 12:00AM
Another thought-I dont know if your h pylori is coming back?But there is a study done on how the zantac and prevacid of the world suppress stomach acid production and food does not get well digested ,move on to mix with the bacteria in the large intestine to produce gas,and not enough stomach acid to kill the micro organism and bacteria on skin surface of veggie and fruit and undercook meat etc,all these lead to pneumonia,constipation etc.

by cuprex, Oct 26, 2005 12:00AM
Hey Doc

Ive done every conceivable test for the heart, even such advanced machines that my Med Aid claim was paid after 8months.

There is nothing wrong with my heart, just when I sit for an extended period of time

or lie on my back, I get  PVC's, my heart rate wich is usally pretty slow around 54-58

beats, when it slows to 50, I get PVC's and that disturbs me...

Ive been told they are harmless, I just feel like what if my heart just bombs out.



I did a have an episode of Arterial Fribulation, which was also scary....

This was on a full stomach.

Also I used to feel like I was going to pass-out

but these episodes have stopped since I took the antibiotics..



Any thoughts???

by cheril, Oct 28, 2005 12:00AM
I have been diagnosted 4 times with H.Pylori.I was prescribed the prevpac each time.Apparently it was only a temporary fix becouse it's became to a more severe disorder called Diffuse Esophagel spasm.It's the most uncomfortable thing in the world.The worst part of the whole thing is that i was forced to go over the internet to diagnost myself becouse the doctor could not figure out why it continued.I pulled all of the information that i needed about this disease and presented it to him and then he agreed with what i found.Treated me for this disease now i'm finally starting to feel some relief but still not all the way out of the woods.So i'll keep searching for more information on htis horrible disease.

by cuprex, Oct 28, 2005 12:00AM
To: cheril
Hey Cheril Im at ***@**** please get in touch, we need to talk..

Ive had this for 3 years now and its driving me nuts..



Same situation with doctors, scary NO!!!!!

Look forward to hearing from you

by cheril, Nov 01, 2005 12:00AM
You can contact me at ***@****

by tcbear, Nov 08, 2005 12:00AM
About three years ago I had a problem with an irregular heartbeat. My heart would flutter when I was inhaling.  The problem was most severe at night and progressivly got worse until morning.  Tests and tests were taken on my heart with no  problems found. Finally I was given an upper GI and my doctor told me it was Acid reflux caused. Took Previcid and it went away after about two weeks.



Now it is back.  Previcid does not seem to help after two months. It seems worse than the first time.  I have slight heartburn at times.  My heartbeat issues are about the same as the first time but now I occasionally have a rapid continuing heartbeat which will last for 5 or 10 seconds.  I have not been back to the doctor as I do not currently have health insurance. No way can I afford the tests I was given the first time. I have quit drinking coffee, cut way down on alcohol, stopped eating spicy foods and eating before bedtime.  What advice can you give me.  Thanks

by datamouth, Nov 25, 2005 12:00AM
wow.

y'know i thought i was going crazy,

but it is great to know that i'm not alone in this.

i swear. i teared up when i read these posts.

hello, everyone my name is Chris.

i am 28 years old.

i have been suffering from this for about 3 years.

it has almost drove me insane, at times i feel like i could not live like this.

i too have been suffering from an irregular heartbeat.

it is the most scariest thing i have gone through.

i has nearly destroyed my social life.

feeling faint, headaches, bloating, acid reflux, anxiety, i have them all.

i too have taken medicines for acid reflux (nexium, aciphex, etc).

but what drives me insane is the haertbeat thing.

until now i felt like i had heart problems,

even though all the doctors and hospitals i've been to say my heart is fine.

i don't know if i'll find a cure for this here,

but i just had to introduce myself to others that are going thru the same thing.

i must say i feel way better already.

by 808Aaron, Dec 05, 2005 12:00AM
I'm 43 and have never been diagnosed with H Pylori, but I do have the symptoms most of you described.



Upset stomach accompanied by irregular heartbeats,