What Causes Weakness And Fast Heart Beat After Eating?

Posted on Mon, 12 May 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 12 May 2014 Answered on

Mon, 9 Jun 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I feel weak & my heart races after I eat

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (39 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Foods/drinks you take are triggering factors...

Detailed Answer:
Hi there,

Feeling weak and feeling your heart racing after you eat is due to stimulation of vagal nerve, especially if you eat spicy foods, chillies, carbonated drinks.

Further tests are needed to determine why you feel weak and your heart is racing after you eat:
- ECG
- Holter monitoring
- cardiac echo
- thyroid function test
- abdominal ultrasound

Depending on the tests results, specific treatment will be prescribed. Meanwhile, I advise to avoid triggering foods and to eat often and small portions, slowly chewing up.

Hope it was of help! Write me back if you have further queries!
Dr.Benard

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar