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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