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24BHow Is GERD Diagnosed?
Once you have determined the presence of the common symptoms and the risk factors of acid reflux, your doctor may likely put you on an anti-reflux or anti-acid drug therapy. This is the preliminary step for diagnosis whether you suffer from GERD or not. If heartburn symptoms subside after the therapy, then it is most likely that you had acid reflux. If your heartburn does not improve with drug therapy or with lifestyle changes, you may need to undergo a series of additional tests.
Note: There’ s one caveat to the above diagnosis – people with ulcers may also respond positively to the drug therapy as the symptoms of gastric ulcer and GERD are very much alike.
The following are the most common tests for diagnosing the presence and the severity of acid reflux:
48BPH Probe
This is the most common and standard diagnostic test for acid reflux. In this test a thin wire with an acid sensor is inserted through the nose into the lower area of the esophagus and is attached to a monitoring device worn outside the body. You are then monitored for 24-hour periods to determine if the acidity levels of your esophagus alters during each meal, during activities and while you sleep.
49BEsophageal Manometry
This test involves the swallowing of a catheter for about an hour and will examine the muscle tone of your esophagus and identify abnormalities in the
Jeff Martin – Heartburn No More Page 38