Roemheld syndrome

File:Location of the stomach.jpg

Symptoms can be as follows.{{cite journal | vauthors = Lok NS, Lau CP | title = Prevalence of palpitations, cardiac arrhythmias and their associated risk factors in ambulant elderly | journal = International Journal of Cardiology | volume = 54 | issue = 3 | pages = 231–236 | date = June 1996 | pmid = 8818746 | doi = 10.1016/0167-5273(96)02601-0 }}{{cite web| vauthors = Sharma S |title=Roemheld Syndrome - Gastric Cardia|url=http://roemheld-syndrome.com/|website=roemheld-syndrome.com|access-date=28 March 2017}} They are periodic, and occur only during an "episode", usually after eating.

• Sinus bradycardia
• Difficulty inhaling
• Angina pectoris
• Left ventricular discomfort
• Premature heart beats (PVC / PAC)
• Tachycardia
• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Uncomfortable breathing
• Poor perfusion
• Muscle pain (crampiness)
• Burst or sustained vertigo or dizziness
• Sleep disturbance (particularly when sleeping within a few hours of eating, or lying on the left side)
• Hot flashes

File:A manual of operative surgery (1910) (14763290875).jpg part visible and Vagus nerve]]

Mechanically induced Roemheld syndrome is characterized by pressure in the epigastric and left hypochondriac region. Often the pressure is in the fundus of the stomach, the esophagus or distention of the bowel. It is believed this leads to elevation of the diaphragm, and secondary displacement of the heart. This reduces the ability of the heart to fill and increases the contractility of the heart to maintain homeostasis.

File:Human physiology (1913) (14779552822).jpg and brain medulla oblongata, which regulate the movements of the stomach]]

The cranium dysfunction mechanical changes in the gut can compress the vagus nerve at any number of locations along the vagus, slowing the heart. As the heart slows, autonomic reflexes are triggered to increase blood pressure and heart rate.

This is complemented by gastro-coronary reflexes{{cite journal | vauthors = Palmer ED | title = The abnormal upper gastrointestinal vagovagal reflexes that affect the heart | journal = The American Journal of Gastroenterology | volume = 66 | issue = 6 | pages = 513–522 | date = December 1976 | pmid = 1020737 | url = https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1020737/ }} whereby the coronary arteries constrict with "functional cardiovascular symptoms" similar to chest-pain on the left side and radiation to the left shoulder, dyspnea, sweating, up to angina pectoris-like attacks with extrasystoles, drop of blood pressure, and tachycardia (high heart rate) or sinus bradycardia (heart rate below 60 bpm). Typically, there are no changes/abnormalities related in the EKG detected. This can actually trigger a heart attack in people with cardiac structural abnormalities i.e. coronary bridge, missing coronary, and atherosclerosis.

If the heart rate drops too low for too long, catecholamines are released to counteract any lowering of blood pressure. Catecholamines bind to alpha receptors and beta receptors, decreasing vasodilation and increasing contractility of the heart. Sustaining this state causes heart fatigue which can lead to a decline in systolic and diastolic function, resulting in fatigue and chest pain.

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD){{cite journal | vauthors = Roman C, Bruley des Varannes S, Muresan L, Picos A, Dumitrascu DL | title = Atrial fibrillation in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease: a comprehensive review | journal = World Journal of Gastroenterology | volume = 20 | issue = 28 | pages = 9592–9599 | date = July 2014 | pmid = 25071357 | pmc = 4110594 | doi = 10.3748/wjg.v20.i28.9592 | doi-access = free }}
• Excessive gas in the transverse colon caused by:
• Lactose intolerance
• Abnormal gallbladder function and/or blood flow
• Gall stones
• Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction
• Hiatal hernia{{cite journal | vauthors = Noom MJ, Dunham A, DuCoin CG | title = Resolution of Roemheld Syndrome After Hiatal Hernia Repair and LINX Placement: Case Review | journal = Cureus | volume = 15 | issue = 4 | pages = e37429 | date = April 2023 | pmid = 37182025 | pmc = 10173368 | doi = 10.7759/cureus.37429 | doi-access = free }}
• Cardiac bridge (Coronary occluding reflexes triggered by coronary reflexes)
• Enteric disease
• Aneructonia, the inability to belch (continuous or intermittent),{{cite journal| vauthors = Javaid MU, Ikrama M, Abbas S, Javaid MS, Khalid MD, Riaz N, Safdar MA |title=Exploring Roemheld syndrome: a comprehensive review with proposed diagnostic criteria|journal=Herz|date=May 2024|volume=49|pages=448-455|doi=10.1007/s00059-024-05249-y}} also referred to as retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction (R-CPD)
• Bowel obstruction (Less common, this usually leads to intense pain in short time)
• Acute pancreatic necrosis{{cite journal| vauthors = Dittler EL, McGavack TH |title=Pancreatic necrosis associated with auricular fibrillation and flutter|journal=American Heart Journal|date=September 1938|volume=16|issue=3|pages=354–362|doi=10.1016/S0002-8703(38)90615-5}}
• Eosinophilia

There is significant scope of misdiagnosis of Roemheld syndrome. Diagnosis of Roemheld syndrome usually begins with a cardiac workup, as the gastric symptoms may go unnoticed, and the cardiac symptoms are frightening and can be quite severe. After an EKG, Holter monitor, tilt table test, cardiac MRI, cardiac CT, heart catheterization, electrophysiology study, echocardiogram, and extensive blood work, and possibly a sleep study, a cardiologist may rule out a heart condition.

Often a psychiatric evaluation may follow, as conversion disorder may be suspected in the absence of heart disease or structural heart abnormalities.

In the absence of heart abnormalities, the diagnosis is often made on the basis of symptoms. A gastroenterologist will perform a colonoscopy, endoscopy, and abdominal ultrasound to locate or rule out problems in the abdomen.

Determining the cause of Roemheld syndrome is still not an exact science. If you have an ultrasound or sleep study, ensure that you know how to reproduce the symptoms, as it is difficult to detect any abnormalities when symptoms have subsided.

Treatment of the primary gastroenterological distress is the first concern, mitigation of gastric symptoms will also alleviate cardiac distress.

• Anticholinergics, magnesium, or sodium (to raise blood pressure) supplements
• Anticonvulsants have eliminated all symptoms in some Roemheld syndrome sufferers; Lorazepam, Oxcarbazepine increase GI motility, reduce vagus "noise" (sodium channel blocking believed to contribute to positive effects)
• Alpha blockers may increase GI motility if that is an issue, also 5 mg to 10 mg amitriptyline if motility is an issue that can't be solved by other methods
• Antigas - simethicone, beano, omnimax reduces epigastric pressure
• Antacids - calcium carbonate, famotidine, omeprazole, etc. reduces acid reflux in the case of hiatal hernia or other esophageal type Roemheld syndrome.
• Vagotomy, a surgical procedure that involves removing part of the vagus nerve.
• Beta blockers - reduces contractility and automaticity of the heart which reduces irregular rhythms but also lowers blood pressure when symptoms occur, and further reduces perfusion ex: Carvedilol, this will control abnormal heart rhythms, but can precipitate Prinzmetal angina and heart block.

Roemheld syndrome is characterized strictly by abdominal maladies triggering reflexes in the heart. There are a number of pathways through which cardiac reflexes can occur: hormones, mechanical, neurological and immunological.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}

Ludwig Roemheld characterized this particular syndrome shortly before his death; one of his research topics around this time was the effects of calorie intake on the heart. In Elsevier publications, there is no current research or publishing under the name Roemheld syndrome, and as a result, many cases go undiagnosed. German publishing on the subject remains untranslated as of 2009.

• Swallowing syncope
• Retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction

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Category:Syndromes

Category:Heart diseases

Category:Digestive diseases