Acid Reflux: How To Spot The Warning Signs

While we are aware of the typical symptoms of acid reflux disease, a doctor may conduct various diagnostic tests to rule out any organic cause of your acid reflux problem. Typically, if the problem persists after lifestyle and diet changes, the doctor may suggest one of the several procedures enumerated below to find out the actual cause.

These tests are invasive procedures involving insertion of tubes into your food pipe to observe and analyze your information over a period of time.

The Cleveland Clinic Foundation recommends the 24 hour Esophageal Ph test or the 48 hour Bravo Esophageal Ph test. A tube is inserted down, going though your nose and ending up near the Esophageal Sphincter muscle, the main problem in Acid Reflux.

This small tube with its acid monitoring device on the end passes gently through the nose, down the food tube or esophagus and stops about 2 inches above the lower esophageal sphincter. The tube is then taped to the side of your face with the end coming from your nose attached to a portable recorder worn on a belt or on the shoulder. This recorder has buttons to let you record certain conditions.

What happens is that you follow certain food and medication restrictions from a week prior to your test. During the 24-hour test, you avoid showers; record your mealtimes, and meal contents, as well as your rest periods, when you lie down. There are certain buttons to be pressed on the recorder mechanism, in case you have certain symptoms, After 24 hours, the nurse removes this contraption, and the information is downloaded onto a computer that allows the doctor to review the situation and plan your treatment.

An easier test time wise is the Esophageal Manometry Test where a tiny, pressure-sensitive tube is inserted through the nose or mouth into your esophagus. This will measure muscle contractions when you swallow. This will tell the doctors how well the muscles are aiding in digestion.

Endoscopies, X-rays, are all procedures that minutely find out if you have an existing obstruction that hampers the proper digestion of food, by observing your insides through a lighted scope.

Once the doctor has confirmed that there is no physiological cause of your Acid Reflux, like narrowing of the food pipe, scarring of the food pipe, or an undefined suspicious growth where one should not exist, it is time to start thinking of medications and long-term lifestyle issues.
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