Acid Reflux and Crohn's Disease: Understanding the Heartburn Connection

If having Crohn's disease isn't bad enough, lots of us struggle with other digestive symptoms alongside it. For me, one of these is acid reflux: categorised by burping and a strong feeling of acid in my throat.

Today I wanted to chat about how acid reflux and indigestion could be connected to my Crohn's disease.

Does Crohn's cause acid reflux?

My doctors have told me that Crohn's and acid reflux are not connected, which seems odd considering it's all the same digestive tract, after all. This is because it's thought that less than 1 percent of Crohn's patients have the type of Crohn's that impacts the esophagus.

However, you can have reflux and Crohn's disease at the same time without Crohn's directly being the cause. After all, reflux and heartburn are thought to impact much of the healthy population too – at least 60 million Americans at least once a month, according to the American College of Gastroenterology.¹

Why does heartburn worsen during a Crohn's flare?

Other studies show that Crohn's patients do commonly report heartburn and symptoms associated with it. They also note that there may be a connection between these indigestion symptoms and our disease activity: heartburn was found to correlate with increased disease activity.²

This might explain why these symptoms worsen when many of us in a flare. For me, a flare-up and reflux seem to go hand in hand.

H. pylori: A surprising connection to IBD

Another connection is with the bacteria H. pylori. H pylori is responsible for things such as ulcers and heartburn/reflux and can be tested by breath and stool test. Interestingly, the connection between this and Crohn's is the reverse.

Studies have shown H. pylori was found in a lower prevalence of Crohn's disease patients than it was in H pylori-negative patients, suggesting it could possibly have a protective factor in developing Crohn's and potentially play a part in whether someone or not gets Crohn's disease.³

Identifying common reflux triggers in IBD

I thought I'd share a few things that have improved my acid reflux when it arises. One is keeping an eye on what and how I'm eating. One of the biggest triggers of my reflux is definitely overeating, especially in the evening, which leads me to wake up with reflux in the middle of the night or the next morning.

Another thing that triggers my reflux is high-fat and greasy foods, so trying to be mindful of these has really helped. Chocolate is another culprit if I eat in large quantities.

Tips for managing acid reflux with Crohn's

• Sip: Try warm mint tea to soothe indigestion (I know some people find peppermint tea can worsen reflux, but it really helps me with indigestion and stomach pain.)
• Cleanse: Brush your teeth and use mouthwash to neutralize the "acid taste"
• Portion Control: Stick to smaller, plain meals like chicken and potatoes, soup, fish, and rice. (I have also found a probiotic with turmeric helps my reflux, but that is different for everyone, so talk to your doctor before you begin.)
• Timing: Avoid eating large or high-fat meals late in the evening to prevent nighttime reflux.

I'd love to know: Have you dealt with acid reflux? Do you find that it coincides with your Crohn's symptoms? Comment below.