How To Control Your Acid Reflux GERD Condition

Acid reflux GERD occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus after eating, causing discomfort known as heartburn, and reoccurs two or more days per week for at least three months. Every year, there are 4.6 million doctor visits related to acid reflux disease (or GERD). This problem is often shrugged off as a random bout of food poisoning or just routine digestive malfunctions, but it should be taken seriously to prevent future disturbances.

We all experience heartburn sometime in our lives. It may just be a one-off unpleasant burp. It may be "swallowing something down the wrong pipe" or dysphagia, difficulty swallowing. At its worst, heartburn symptoms include debilitating chest pain. If you experience these symptoms two or more times per week over several months, then you may have acid reflux GERD.

When you see your doctor about acid reflux, there are several tests to determine if your heartburn may damage the esophagus or internal organs. The first test is called an Endoscopy, where a thin, flexible tube and video camera are passed into the mouth, down the esophagus and into the stomach. Don't worry - you'll be sedated and you won't feel a thing! The second test your doctor may perform is called a Barium Esophagram. This test observes the shape of the esophagus, looking for abnormalities in the stomach and throat. You'll drink a chalky liquid containing barium, which coats the esophagus and stomach, and allows them to be viewed in an X-ray. A third procedure, known as Esophageal pH Monitoring, tests for the amount of acid in the esophagus over time. In one variation of this test, a tiny tube goes in through the nose, into the esophagus and an acid monitor on the tip measures acid levels over a 24-hour period. The other way to monitor consists of attaching a medicine capsule sized monitor during an endoscopy, which tests acid over a 48-hour period when the monitor is passed out like food. While these may seem uncomfortable, keep in mind that it's better than dealing with a rotted esophagus later!

Acid reflux GERD often points to dietary problems. Sometimes it's not always the spicy food or the red wine — but rather, an imbalance of dietary needs, which results in the malfunctioning of the digestion process. Without the right combination of chemical triggers, the pancreas, intestines and stomach valves don't know when to act. The leading cause of death in industrialized nations is diet-related heart and organ failure. By seeing your doctor about acid reflux, you can easily get a handle on the underlying cause of these uncomfortable symptoms.