Treat Acid Reflux

Testing For Acid Reflux Symptoms
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Defined Tag: Acid Reflux Symptoms.
Suffering from gestroesophageal reflux disease or GERD does not necessarily means that extensive testing has to be undergone. The medical examination usually starts with the doctor asking questions regarding your acid reflux symptoms. The most common question that is frequently asked is whether or not you feel a burning, warmth, heat or pain just behind the breastbone. The said description is medically referred to as heartburn.

If you have frequent or severe cases of heartburn then your doctor will usually prescribe medications normally used to treat GERD. This procedure is done before any other tests are conducted. If your acid reflux symptoms improve due to the prescribed medication then your doctor will not ask you to go for further testing.

However, sometimes due to severe cases, a doctor might refer you to a specialist called a gastroenterologist. A gastroenterologist will perform a test called an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. This test will allow the doctor to have a look at the inner lining of your esophagus, stomach and the first part of your small intestine through a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope.

The endoscopy is used for several reasons. First, it is used to evaluate the esophagus for inflammation and other complications that may have been caused by acid reflux. Second, it can be used to rule out Barrett's esophagus, which is another acid reflux complication. Finally, it is used to rule out other diseases such as ulcers or cancer. Your doctor will typically order an endoscopy if you have had acid reflux symptoms for a long time, your symptoms do not improve through medication, your symptoms come back immediately after medication is stopped or there are other serious signs present such as weight loss, vomiting of blood or problems with swallowing.

Aside from using an endoscopy, esophageal tests may be done. This is usually the procedure if your doctor cannot get enough evidence that acid reflux is causing your symptoms through the use of an endoscopy. The said test is recommended if your symptoms are not treated with medication, if you have frequent symptoms that place you at risk of Barrett's esophagus or if you need long-term therapy for you condition.

Esophageal testing includes manometry testing which determines how well the muscles of your esophagus move food into your stomach and how tight the valve between the esophagus and the stomach is when it closes. This type of testing is often required before you undergo surgery to treat your acid reflux disease.

In addition to the use of endoscopy and through esophageal testing, pH monitoring can also be used. PH monitoring is another test, which looks at how often the stomach acid gets into the esophagus and how long it remains there.

Although, X-rays of the esophagus or stomach are not usually taken to diagnose acid reflux disease, they are sometimes used. However, sometimes it may be done since they can be helpful in determining if there is another problem that can cause symptoms of acid reflux. These problems can be a hiatal hernia or a narrowing of the esophagus, called a stricture. These X-rays are usually done as a part of a series known as an upper gastrointestinal or UGI series.


The tests that your doctor will order are based on the acid reflux symptoms you have. Before you agree to any extensive acid reflux testing it is best to ask the necessary information the doctor will gain from the test and how the results will affect your acid reflux treatment.

Acid Reflux can be very painful but it is definitely treatable. For more information and resources on acid reflux treatment, please visit this site at http://www.treat-acid-reflux.com.