A new study has revealed that people who suffer with acid reflux (GORD) are not at an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation – a heart rhythm disorder.

The disorder causes the heart beat to become irregular due to disorganised electrical activity. Atrial fibrillation can cause chest pain, fainting and lead to further heart complications.

Obesity is a one of the main risk factors of the disorder along with sleeping disorders such as insomnia and alcohol addiction. Anybody with a family history of heart disease is also at risk of atrial fibrillation. Until now, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, or acid reflux, was thought to trigger the heart disorder due to acid levels making the chest become inflamed.

Researchers studies over 5,000 US residents between the ages of 25-74 years old. The team found no evidence that having acid reflux had a association with atrial fibrillation but high blood pressure and heart failure had significant associations.

The research team added that people who did have GORD were less likely to develop heart rhythm disorder.

Learn more about acid reflux (GORD) and alternative medicine and complementary therapies that can help here

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