Can Anxiety Cause Acid Reflux?

Clinically Reviewed by Ami G. Risinger, LPC-MHSP

Potential causes of acid reflux include behaviors such as your eating, smoking, and drinking habits. Can this condition also be triggered by emotions? Can anxiety cause acid reflux?

Contact Time Wellness Centers today to learn more about mental health treatment in Tennessee.

What Is Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux occurs when digestive acid leaks into your esophagus, which is the muscle-lined tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. 

The esophagus should be a one-way street. Foods and liquids pass from your mouth to your esophagus, where muscle contractions push them into your stomach. Once they arrive in your stomach, acids and enzymes break them into component parts that may be used, stored, or eliminated. 

When stomach acids move in the wrong direction, it can trigger a variety of unpleasant symptoms.

Symptoms of Acid Reflux

Common symptoms of acid reflux include:

• Acidic or sour taste in the back of your mouth
• Burning sensation in abdomen
• Mild chest pain
• Nausea
• Excessive salivation
• Sore throat or difficulty swallowing
• Dry cough
• Shortness of breath
• Hoarseness

What Causes Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux is caused by an improperly functioning lower esophageal sphincter (LES). 

The LES is a ring-like muscle that opens to allow food and liquid to pass from your esophagus to your stomach. It then closes to prevent any substances from flowing out of your stomach and back into your esophagus.

There are several possible reasons why your LES may fail to function properly, including behaviors such as eating certain foods, overeating, lying down after having a large meal, smoking, and drinking alcohol. 

Acid Reflux vs. GERD

Articles about acid reflux often also mention something called GERD. If you’re confused about the relationship between these two terms, we can quickly clear that up: They’re the same thing!

To be precise, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the medical condition that causes chronic acid reflux.

If you occasionally have acid reflux, that may be the result of the risk factors in the previous section. But if you have it on a regular basis – such as once or twice a week – GERD may be to blame.

Can Anxiety Cause Acid Reflux?

Can anxiety cause acid reflux? To be more precise, can anxiety cause GERD acid reflux? 

Yes, researchers have determined that it can.

In October 2018, the Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility published a large study that investigated the link between anxiety, depression, and various types of GERD:

• The study was based on data from 19,099 patients at Seoul National University Hospital Healthcare System Gangnam Center. This population included 1,574 people who had symptoms of acid reflux.
• The research team reported that levels of both anxiety and depression were higher among patients with GERD than among those who didn’t have the condition. 
• The researchers also noted that the relationship between GERD acid reflux and anxiety may be bidirectional. In other words, for some people anxiety may lead to GERD, while for others having GERD may contribute to anxiety.

This study also included findings from previous research efforts, including:

• Anxiety may be a direct trigger of acid reflux by lowering the pressure of the LES, altering muscle movements within the esophagus, or increasing the secretion of gastric acid.
• Persistent reflux symptoms can be a source of emotional distress, which can lead to anxiety and depression. 
• Anxiety and depression can lead to hypochondriasis, or severe fear of having an undiagnosed medical condition. This can indirectly lower patients’ threshold for perceiving reflux symptoms and increase the sensation of these symptoms.
• GERD patients, especially those who responded poorly to proton pump inhibitors (a type of medication that can reduce stomach acid production) were more likely to show higher levels of anxiety and depression.

“The relationship between anxiety, depression, and GERD involves a complex interplay of various mechanisms,” the research team wrote, “and a multidisciplinary approach is needed to understand this relationship.”

Other Physical Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are characterized by two painful emotions: excessive worry and disproportionate fear. However, as indicated by its relationship with GERD acid reflux, anxiety can also cause a range of physical symptoms. 

In addition to digestive concerns, other physical effects of anxiety can include:

• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Headache
• Muscle tension
• Excessive perspiration
• Feeling like you can’t catch your breath
• Sense of being choked or smothered
• Racing heart rate
• Intense chest pain
• Hot flashes and/or chills
• Tingling in hands and feet
• Trembling
• Restlessness

In some circumstances, these symptoms can become so intense that a person may truly believe that they are about to die.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Though people often think of anxiety as a single condition, the term actually encompasses several distinct disorders.

In the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the Anxiety Disorders section includes:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
• Panic disorder
• Social anxiety disorder (social phobia)
• Separation anxiety disorder
• Selective mutism
• Specific phobia
• Agoraphobia

The DSM-5 also includes entries for anxiety that is brought on by medication or other substances, as well as anxiety that is triggered by another medical condition. 

Treatment for anxiety typically involves mental health medication and therapy. Since personalization is a key feature of effective anxiety treatment, the types medication and therapeutic approaches that are included in person’s plan can vary depending on the type and severity of their symptoms, how these symptoms have affected their life, and if they are also dealing with any co-occurring mental or behavioral health concerns.

Find Anxiety Treatment in Tennessee

Time Wellness Tennessee offers a full continuum of customized services for adults who have been struggling with anxiety and other mental health concerns.

Treatment options at our mental health centers in Chattanooga and Taft, TN, include residential/inpatient care, a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and an outpatient program (OP). A member of our team will be happy to discuss the features and benefits of each option and help you determine which ones may be best for you

To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.