Can Covid19 Cause Acid Reflux

What’s the link between Covid-19 and Acid Reflux?

If you’re curious, here’s what you need to know.

It’s not uncommon for people to think that they have acid reflux when they actually don’t. But the truth is there are certain situations when you can be very sure that acid reflux is the cause of your symptoms.

A person can experience acid reflux when an excessive amount of stomach acid (or hydrochloric acid) is made by the stomach. The stomach acid backs up into the oesophagus where it is not intended to be. Symptoms of acid reflux include chest pain, heartburn, nausea, and vomiting.

Are any of these symptoms bothering you? If so, read on!

Can Covid-19 Cause Acid Reflux?

Covid is a common cause of gastroenteritis.¹ It usually causes a sore throat and a fever. However, it can also cause acid reflux.

The signs and symptoms of acid reflux are:

• Heartburn or pain in the chest

• Burning sensation in the throat, stomach or chest

• Nausea or vomiting

• Trouble swallowing

The coronavirus is a common cause of upper respiratory tract infection. It also goes by the name of flu or cold. The symptoms can be fever, sore throat, muscle aches, headache and fatigue. Apart from this, it can also cause acid reflux and heartburn in some cases.²

Acid reflux occurs when stomach acids come back up into the oesophagus and upper gastro-intestinal tract where they don’t belong. This happens because food or drink has travelled too far down into the stomach (known as ‘gastric distension’).

It can also occur due to other factors such as obesity, pregnancy, gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining) or hiatus hernia (the latter being rare).

Woman holding stomach from acid reflux, can covid-19 cause acid reflux?

Is It Safe To Take Acid Reflux Treatment With Covid-19?

There are two types of medications used to manage acid reflux, proton pump inhibitors and H2 blockers.³

H2 blockers are normally recommended for people who have mild or moderate heartburn.

Proton pump inhibitors are usually offered for people suffering from conditions like ulcers, stomach cancer, or other serious disorders.

If you’re suffering from both Covid and acid reflux conditions at once, be sure to speak with your doctor before taking any type of treatment. This is because there haven’t been enough studies done to know whether or not it interacts in a way that would be unsafe for you.

What Medication Can I Take To Help With Acid Reflux?

There are many medications that will help with acid reflux. It is important to find the right medication for you. The two main classes of medications are the proton pump inhibitors and the histamine H2 receptor blockers. Find out the difference between common acid reflux medications here.

Acid Reflux medications are available on e-Surgery, including:

Esomeprazole

Omeprazole

Lansoprazole

It is recommended to speak with your doctor before starting any of the medications we offer.

The medications mentioned above are proton pump inhibitors and the most common medicine prescribed for chronic acid reflux disorder.

Proton pump inhibitors act by disabling the cells of the stomach that produce acid, which helps prevent acid from entering the oesophagus.⁴

Other medications include H2 blockers, which work by blocking histamine receptors in cells lining the stomach and oesophagus, thereby reducing gastric acid secretion and gastric secretions into the small intestine.⁵

Some people find relief with prokinetics, which improve stomach emptying time and can reduce nausea and abdominal pain for people with gastroparesis. There are also a few things you can do at home to help relieve acid reflux symptoms, for example, some people find that ginger works well as a home remedy for acid reflux.

What precautions can I take to avoid Covid-19?

It is important to take precautions when travelling to avoid this disease. Pregnant women, children, and adults with weakened immune systems should not travel to any place where coronavirus is prevalent.⁶

There are several precautions that you can take to avoid coronavirus:

• Avoid contact with sick people, relatives and friends. Wear a face mask and use tissues when you cough or sneeze.

• Avoid touching your mouth, nose or eyes if you have been in contact with someone who has the virus.

• Wash your hands before eating, after using the toilet and after cleaning surfaces contaminated with the virus.

• Do not share food, drinks, cigarettes or toothbrushes with anyone who may be infected.

• Stay at home while you have symptoms and seek medical attention as soon as possible if they worsen.

Those are some precautions to avoid coronavirus. It’s best to stay home and avoid going outside.

Conclusion

This section concludes that covid may cause acid reflux in some cases. However, it is not clear whether or not it is safe to take Covid and acid reflux medication together. It’s important to talk to your doctor if you think you might have any of these conditions.

If you’re having symptoms of acid reflux, you can check out the E-Surgery Acid Reflux Product Page. There are medications available that can be delivered to your doorstep.

Sources

[1] Coronaviruses and gastro-intestinal diseases | NCBI

[2] Covid and Acid Reflux | Healthline

[3] Medications for acid reflux | Healthline

[4] Proton pump inhibitors | NCBI

[5] H2 Blockers | NCBI

[6] Covid Precautions | NHS UK