A new study has uncovered a possible link between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)—commonly known as acid reflux—and an increased risk of developing high blood pressure (also called hypertension). This finding may help doctors better understand how to prevent high blood pressure by managing other common health issues.
The research was conducted by scientists at Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine in China and was published in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine.
Instead of just looking at health records or survey data, the team used a method called Mendelian randomization, which analyzes genetic information to look for potential cause-and-effect relationships between health conditions.
GERD happens when stomach acid often flows back into the esophagus—the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. This can cause burning chest pain (heartburn), sore throat, and sometimes long-term damage if left untreated.
On the other hand, high blood pressure is when the pressure in your arteries stays too high over time. It often has no symptoms but increases the risk of serious problems like heart attacks and strokes.
Because both GERD and hypertension are common, the researchers wanted to know if there might be a direct connection between the two. They looked at 16 genetic markers, known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), that are strongly linked to GERD.
By studying these genes in large genetic databases, they were able to examine whether people who are more likely to have GERD (based on their genes) are also more likely to develop high blood pressure.
The results showed that people with a genetic tendency toward GERD had a slightly higher risk of hypertension, with an odds ratio of 1.057. This means that GERD could raise the risk of developing high blood pressure by about 5.7%.
While this increase is modest, it’s statistically significant and consistent across different types of analysis, suggesting that GERD may indeed play a small role in raising blood pressure.
The study didn’t explain exactly how GERD might contribute to high blood pressure. However, it opens the door to future research on possible connections between acid reflux, inflammation, stress responses, or nerve activity—all of which may affect blood pressure.
What does this mean for everyday health? The researchers say that managing GERD symptoms early could be more important than previously thought—not just for digestive health, but also for heart health. If GERD is found to have a real effect on blood pressure, treating it might help lower the risk of developing hypertension.
The findings also highlight the value of looking at how different body systems interact. Even conditions that seem unrelated, like acid reflux and high blood pressure, might influence each other in subtle but meaningful ways.
This study adds to a growing body of research that shows how lifestyle, diet, and digestive health can affect cardiovascular well-being. People with GERD should talk to their doctors—not only to manage symptoms like heartburn, but also to discuss how it might impact their long-term heart health.
More research is needed, but this discovery is a reminder that even small health problems shouldn’t be ignored, especially when they might be linked to more serious conditions like high blood pressure.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about unhealthy habits that could increase high blood pressure risk, and people with severe high blood pressure should reduce coffee intake.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and results showing plant-based foods could benefit people with high blood pressure.
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