What you should know about Gastroesophageal Reflux
Heartburn, retrosternal heartburn or heartburn is a burning sensation in the center of the chest often occurs after eating, when bending over, exercising, and sometimes, when lying down. It is a common problem, about one in 10 adults have these symptoms at least once a week, and one in three monthly. Some pregnant women have it almost daily. These symptoms indicate a disease called gastro-esophageal reflux or GERD.
When you swallow, food passes through your throat and esophagus to your stomach. A muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter controls the opening between the esophagus and stomach and remains closed except during swallowing. When this muscle fails to close, the contents of the stomach acid can rise into the esophagus. This is called reflux. When stomach acid enters the lower esophagus, can cause the symptoms described above.
The most common symptoms are:
- Feel that food can become trapped behind the breastbone
- Heartburn or burning pain in the chest (under the breastbone) to: increase the bending, tilting the body, sleeping or eating, it is more likely or worse at night, relieved by antacids
- Nausea after eating
- Less common symptoms are:
- Coughing or wheezing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Hiccups
- Hoarse voice
- Regurgitation of food
- Sore throat
You may not need any tests if symptoms are not severe.
If symptoms are severe or recur after receiving treatment, one or more tests can help diagnose acid reflux or any complications:
- Often used esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) to identify the cause and examine the esophagus (swallowing tube) for damage. The doctor inserts a thin tube with a camera on the end through the mouth. The probe is then passed into the esophagus, stomach and small intestine.
- Barium
- Continuous esophageal pH monitoring
- Esophageal manometry
With a blood test positive fecal occult bleeding can be diagnosed from the irritation of the esophagus.
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