How to Diagnose GERD



Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic digestive condition that affects the lower esophageal sphincter, which is the muscle between the stomach and esophagus. GERD can cause a variety of symptoms, including heartburn, regurgitation, difficulty swallowing, chest pain and hoarseness. If left untreated, GERD can lead to serious complications such as Barrett's esophagus and even cancer. Fortunately, there are ways to diagnose GERD so that it can be treated effectively.

1. Talk to Your Doctor: The first step in diagnosing GERD is to talk to your doctor about your symptoms. Your doctor will ask questions about your medical history and lifestyle habits such as diet and exercise. He or she will also perform a physical exam to look for signs of GERD such as an enlarged liver or spleen.

2. Endoscopy: An endoscopy is a procedure in which a thin tube with a camera on the end is inserted into the mouth and down the throat into the esophagus and stomach. This allows doctors to see any damage caused by acid reflux or other problems in these areas of the body.

3. pH Monitoring: A pH probe test measures acid levels in your esophagus over 24 hours while you go about your daily activities as normal (eating, drinking etc). This test helps doctors determine if acid reflux is causing your symptoms or not by measuring how often acid enters your throat from your stomach during this time period

4. Manometry Test: A manometry test measures how well muscles in your esophagus are working when you swallow food or liquids by inserting a thin tube through your nose down into the throat area where it takes pressure readings from different parts of this area over several minutes while you swallow different substances like water or air bubbles

5 Blood Tests: Blood tests may be used if doctors suspect that an infection may be causing GERD-like symptoms because certain infections can cause inflammation of tissues in these areas which could lead to similar issues as those caused by GERD itself

Once all tests have been completed, doctors will use all information gathered from them along with any other relevant information they have gathered from talking with you about lifestyle habits etc., before making their diagnosis on whether someone has GERD or not and what treatment should be prescribed for it if so

Tags:

. GERD, lower esophageal sphincter, heartburn, regurgitation, difficulty swallowing, chest pain, hoarseness, Barrett's esophagus, cancer, doctor, medical history, lifestyle habits, diet and exercise physical exam, enlarged liver or spleen, endoscopy, pH probe test, manometry test, blood tests, infection,

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