When it’s working correctly, it relaxes and opens when you swallow. The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is a circular band of muscle at the end of your esophagus. While there’s no single cause of GERD, there is a mechanism in your body that - when not functioning properly - can increase the likelihood of it. A monitor is inserted into your esophagus to learn how acid is regulated in your body over a period of a few days.Īfter arriving at a diagnosis, your doctor will decide what interventions will work best for you, and if surgery is an option. A flexible tube is passed through the nose into your esophagus to measure the strength of your esophageal muscles. A flexible tube with a tiny camera is threaded into your esophagus to examine it and collect a sample of tissue (biopsy) if needed. After drinking a barium solution, X-ray imaging is used to examine your upper digestive tract. This method is generally considered the “ gold standard” for diagnosisng GERD. An individual wears this tube for about 24 hours.
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A pH sensor at the tip of the tube measures how much acid exposure the esophagus is getting, and sends the data to a portable computer. A small tube is sent through the nose into the esophagus. Your doctor may then recommend you to a gastroenterologist, or may conduct certain tests themselves, including:
If your doctor suspects you might have GERD, they’ll conduct a physical exam and ask about any symptoms you’ve been experiencing. Low fat milk may be easier for some people to tolerate. Unfortunately, even though it may feel soothing initially, the fat and protein it contains can ultimately make heartburn symptoms worse once the milk is digested. Due to its natural alkalinity, milk is another home remedy that’s often touted as a way to ease heartburn symptoms. In fact, in many studies, heartburn is a symptom of taking too much ginger. Ginger is a common home remedy for issues like nausea and a sour stomach, but it’s still unclear if it can actually help with occasional heartburn symptoms. While a very small study from 2005 did find some merit to this approach, the size of the study makes it difficult to draw any real conclusions. The thought here is that because saliva is slightly alkaline, stimulating it by chewing gum after eating may help neutralize the acidity in your mouth and throat. But baking soda is high in sodium, and it’s also possible to experience side effects if you consume too much. Because baking soda is alkaline, it has the ability to help neutralize acidity, and is mostly safe to consume in small doses.