Build Your Body

acidreflux

Your stomach lining is tough as nails. It’s built to handle the most dangerous kind of acid – the sort that burns holes through fabric. However, your esophagus is made of soft tissue and can be easily damaged as acid comes back up in the form of heartburn. While it’s not uncommon to have a heart pang here or a burp there, acid reflux GERD (or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder) is a serious condition that can cause other medical problems if left unchecked.

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 should not be underestimated. Not only is it painful when the acid backs up into the throat, but it can also cause erosive esophagitis, since the soft fleshy tissue in the esophagus was not made like the stomach to handle the corrosive acids. Chronic acid reflux can also cause an abnormal condition known as Barrett’s Esophagus, which is an open invitation to esophagus cancer! However, the good news is that after a few simple tests and painless treatments, you can avoid these problems altogether and live a healthy, normal life.