| Heartburn or pyrosis is that burning sensation felt | | | | There are no tests for the direct determination |
| in the esophagus. The esophagus is located below | | | | of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). So all |
| the breastbone. The burning feeling is because of | | | | the doctors can do is study the symptoms to |
| gastric acid. While the pain usually beings in the | | | | figure out its presence. In case the study of |
| chest area, it is quite normal for it to spread to | | | | symptoms does not yield conclusive results then |
| the neck, throat, and even the jaw. | | | | the only option left is to conduct tests to rule out |
| Heartburn is one of the causes of asthma and | | | | other possible symptomatic factors. |
| chronic cough. | | | | Some of the tests are:pH monitoring. In this case, |
| Though it is called "heartburn", the actual problem | | | | a probe is placed through the nose into the |
| has nothing to do with the heart. It is simply called | | | | esophagus to record acid levels. Reflux effects |
| heartburn because of the breastbone is where | | | | are always taking place in small, inconsequential |
| the pain begins. Some other heart problems share | | | | amounts in the lower esophagus. That is why it |
| the same symptoms with heartburn. | | | | becomes necessary to record the acid levels |
| At any given moment, there is plenty of acid in | | | | over a long period. A minimum of 24 hours is |
| the stomach. Sometimes, this acid can move | | | | considered average. |
| upward and the lower esophagus will get a good | | | | Another way is to take x-rays of the upper |
| dose of it. This acidic exposure of the lower | | | | digestive tract soon after consuming a solution |
| esophagus is experienced as heartburn. The lower | | | | containing barium. This can help with determining |
| esophageal sphincter (LES) that separates the | | | | the reflux of barium in the esophagus, another |
| esophagus from the stomach is normally meant | | | | suggestive factor for the presence of GERD. |
| to contract in order to keep the acid away. | | | | Manometry is a test in which a pressure sensor |
| Sometimes (for example during swallowing) the | | | | called the monometer is passed into the |
| sphincter has to relax and at such times it is | | | | esophagus via the mouth in order to measure the |
| possible for acidic stomach contents to reenter | | | | pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter. |
| the esophagus. This return is referred to as | | | | Endoscopy involves the direct visual examination |
| reflux. The rhythmic muscular contractions in the | | | | using a video camera that is lower through the |
| esophagus (called peristalsis), move the food | | | | mouth into the esophagus and stomach. This is a |
| down past the LES. | | | | good way of looking for esophageal inflammation. |