Did you know that your stomach has the same acidity as battery acid? It’s no wonder then, that heartburn is so painful when that same acid comes up the esophagus. In some cases, vomit arises resulting from a weakened or relaxed esophageal valve. In other cases, the acid vapors cause a tightness in the chest and temporarily disrupts oxygen flow to the heart, making many people fear they’re having a heart attack. Every year 4.6 million Americans visit their doctors to see if they have acid reflux GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease).

At what point does the occasional heartburn become full-blown acid reflux GERD? If you have chronic heartburn two or more days per week over a several month period, then you probably have GERD symptoms. People have varying sensitivity to stomach acids as well. If you frequently eat within an hour or two of going to sleep and find yourself awake coughing, with a hoarse voice and bitter taste in your mouth the next morning, then you most likely have supine reflux. Over half the people with acid reflux suffer nighttime symptoms as well. If left unchecked, then esophagus damage and asthma can occur. Additionally, your reflux symptoms may signify poor nutrition, which can turn into a whole myriad of life-threatening diseases and disorders.

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.

More On: Taking Control of Your Acid Reflux GERD

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This entry was posted on Saturday, December 8th, 2007 at 9:30 am and is filed under Health & Beauty. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.