Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, can cause heartburn while running. Most everyone experiences heartburn from time to time, but with GERD the symptoms occur frequently during the week and can cause significant damage to the esophagus. If you suspect GERD, consult with your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Identificaton
Acid reflux while running causes a burning sensation behind the breastbone that often radiates toward the neck and throat. A sore throat sometimes occurs with the sensation of a lump in the back of your throat. Difficulties swallowing can sometimes trigger a gag reflex, causing you to regurgitate bile from your stomach; the bile has a sour taste. Some less common symptoms of acid reflux are hiccups, wheezing, coughing and regurgitation. If you experience wheezing and coughing while running, it's possible exercise-induced bronchospasms are the cause and not GERD.
Cause
When you swallow food, the food leaves your mouth and enters your esophagus, where it travels downward until reaching your stomach. At the bottom of your esophagus is a ring of muscle fiber called the lower esophageal sphincter. In normal cases, the sphincter relaxes to allow food into your stomach and then closes once food is in your stomach. If the sphincter malfunctions and remains relaxed, then food can leave the stomach and travel backwards up the esophagus, which leads to the symptoms you experience while running. As you run, your body bounces, causing the contents of your stomach to splash around in an acidic liquid. If the sphincter is malfunctioning, this bouncing allows the stomach's contents to splash up through the sphincter and back into the esophagus. Eating shortly before running increases your risk of acid reflux. Some other triggers include spicy foods, caffeine, peppermint and smoking.
Treatment
There are several over-the-counter medications that treat mild to moderate symptoms of GERD. Antacids, H2 receptor blockers and proton pump inhibitors are commonly used for acid reflux, but if relief is not felt within a few weeks, then prescription-strength medication is likely needed. Prokinetic agents are used to strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter, but surgery is a last resort if no medications are effective for your situation. Surgery keeps the sphincter from malfunctioning so it stays closed when contents are in the stomach. Treatment for GERD is a long-term therapy that may need to be followed for life.
Prevention
Do not eat before running, since it increases your risk of acid reflux pain. Eat small, frequent meals instead of three large meals, to limit the amount of content in your stomach at one time. If you experience heartburn while running, do not lie down, since this allows stomach acid to enter farther into the esophagus and worsens your symptoms. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and keep your throat and esophagus lubricated while running. Do not wear clothes that are tight around the waist while running, since this places pressure on your stomach and lower esophageal sphincter.
