Diagnosing Acid Reflux Disease
There are scores of diagnostic tests for tracking down the cause of digestive diseases, including acid reflux. Some, such as breath tests, are easy to do and non-invasive. They can be done by a doctor in the office.
Endoscopic tests, on the other hand, require more time and expense. With some, sedatives or anesthesia is needed. They usually involve a technician as well as the doctor, and sometimes more than one doctor. In another category, scans such as CT or MRI, and the new virtual colonoscopy, require that you go to a medical center or hospital.
Because symptoms are similar for a variety of gastroenterological conditions, most diagnoses must be made through a process of excluding all possibilities. Before any diagnostic tests are performed, a physical examination as well as a detailed history of symptoms and lifestyle are needed.
Esophageal pH Probe
A pH probe of the esophagus is the gold standard diagnostic test for acid reflux disease. By monitoring you for twenty four hour periods, your doctor can determine the acidity level of your esophagus and how your symptoms change during meals, activity, and sleep. When a symptom such as chest pain correlates on a temporal basis with a drop in the pH of the esophagus, the pain is caused by acid reflux. Newer techniques of long term pH monitoring are improving diagnostic capability.
The esophageal pH test measures how often stomach acid flows into the lower esophagus. A small probe at the end of a tube does the measuring. The tube is gently inserted through the nose to reach the end of the esophagus. It is attached to a small portable recorder you carry at your waist for twenty four hours. Whenever you experience reflux or other symptoms, you press a button on the recorder to mark the time. Later, when reading the printout from the recorder, the doctor will be able to note the acidity level at each marked time.
Eight hours before you begin this test, you must abstain from food or liquid. This is so your doctor can examine the esophagus in its natural state. Any medications that affect the acid flow are usually discontinued at least forty eight hours before the test, as are caffeine and alcohol. It takes less than fifteen minutes to place the pH probe while you sit on a chair or lie on your side. As you swallow, the tip of the tube enters the esophagus and the medical technician or doctor passes it to the target area. You may gag slightly, but this is easily controlled. Once the tube is taped to your nose and connected to the recording device, it's well tolerated. The tube is sensitive to changes in acid concentration. Sometimes two sensors are used if trying to determine if breathing problems or hoarseness is caused by acid reflux.
You will be given a diary in which to record anything that affects reflux, such as eating or changing your position. When the tube is removed, the data from the recording device are downloaded into a computer.
Endoscopic tests, on the other hand, require more time and expense. With some, sedatives or anesthesia is needed. They usually involve a technician as well as the doctor, and sometimes more than one doctor. In another category, scans such as CT or MRI, and the new virtual colonoscopy, require that you go to a medical center or hospital.
Because symptoms are similar for a variety of gastroenterological conditions, most diagnoses must be made through a process of excluding all possibilities. Before any diagnostic tests are performed, a physical examination as well as a detailed history of symptoms and lifestyle are needed.
Esophageal pH Probe
A pH probe of the esophagus is the gold standard diagnostic test for acid reflux disease. By monitoring you for twenty four hour periods, your doctor can determine the acidity level of your esophagus and how your symptoms change during meals, activity, and sleep. When a symptom such as chest pain correlates on a temporal basis with a drop in the pH of the esophagus, the pain is caused by acid reflux. Newer techniques of long term pH monitoring are improving diagnostic capability.
The esophageal pH test measures how often stomach acid flows into the lower esophagus. A small probe at the end of a tube does the measuring. The tube is gently inserted through the nose to reach the end of the esophagus. It is attached to a small portable recorder you carry at your waist for twenty four hours. Whenever you experience reflux or other symptoms, you press a button on the recorder to mark the time. Later, when reading the printout from the recorder, the doctor will be able to note the acidity level at each marked time.
Eight hours before you begin this test, you must abstain from food or liquid. This is so your doctor can examine the esophagus in its natural state. Any medications that affect the acid flow are usually discontinued at least forty eight hours before the test, as are caffeine and alcohol. It takes less than fifteen minutes to place the pH probe while you sit on a chair or lie on your side. As you swallow, the tip of the tube enters the esophagus and the medical technician or doctor passes it to the target area. You may gag slightly, but this is easily controlled. Once the tube is taped to your nose and connected to the recording device, it's well tolerated. The tube is sensitive to changes in acid concentration. Sometimes two sensors are used if trying to determine if breathing problems or hoarseness is caused by acid reflux.
You will be given a diary in which to record anything that affects reflux, such as eating or changing your position. When the tube is removed, the data from the recording device are downloaded into a computer.
