Stress – a real nuisance to your stomach

You have an important presentation at work, first encounter with your partner’s parents or an exam coming up, and a pain in your stomach occurs. Does that sound familiar?
Stress affects the gastrointestinal tract, and the stomach is no exception. When we are stressed, symptoms of acid reflux, like nagging heartburn, fiery pain and stomach tightness, become more pronounced.

How does stress affect the stomach?

Although stress is not supposed to increase the production of gastric acid, people under stress tend to experience the symptoms of acid reflux more acutely. In times of stress, pain receptors in the esophagus become more sensitive to the same levels of acid. Also, when you are stressed, your prostaglandin levels decline, which leads to a decreased protection of the stomach from the effects of acid.

A vicious circle of stress, unhealthy diet and stomach problems

A recent survey revealed that around 60% of Europeans believe stress to be a contributing factor to stomach problems. A comparable proportion of respondents believe that an unhealthy diet also plays a role in stomach problems.
People under stress are prone to opting for high-fat fast food, skipping meals, overeating, and drinking more coffee and alcohol. These can lead to increased production of gastric acid, resulting in uncomfortable reflux symptoms, which can cause stress. It can thus be either stress or food that traps us in a vicious circle, but ultimately the outcome is the same.

How to break this vicious circle?

Just as both stress or diet can drag us into a vicious circle, addressing either one or the other can break it. We need to avoid foods that upset our stomach and learn how to manage stress.

If, despite lifestyle changes, heartburn and other reflux symptoms still occur more than once a week, guidelines recommend treatment with medications that inhibit the production of gastric acid and, in turn, protect and promote the healing of gastric or esophageal mucosa.

Just one tablet of Nolpaza® control a day can alleviate symptoms from the first days of treatment. After 14 days of consistent treatment with Nolpaza control, you can experience long-lasting relief from heartburn. If symptoms persist after 14 days, it is advisable to consult a doctor to rule out any other serious underlying causes.

*Krka has registered a wide range of products in different countries. There are differences in registration and availability of our products among the countries.

Some products may also have a different brand name in different countries. Please contact your local representative office for up-to-date details specific for your country or visit the available Krka’s local web pages.

Reference

1. GastroDoxs: The Role of Stress in Acid Reflux [internet].  [cited 2024 Jan 23]. Available from: https://www.gastrodoxs.com/blog/the-role-of-stress-in-acid-reflux
2. Mann D. GERD and Stress—Why You May Feel It in Your Gut. Health [internet]. 2022 [cited 2024 Jan 23]. Available from: https://www.health.com/condition/gerd/feeling-stressed-why-you-may-feel-it-in-your-gut
3. Lavtar T, Mitrović B, Rojac M et al. Understanding people with GERD symptoms and treatment approach in everyday practice. Krka Med Farm [internet]. 2024. [cited 2024 January 8]. Available from: https://ma.krka.si/url/pem4b/