Gastro-esophageal reflux disease or GERD is what most people will refer to as acid reflux disease.
It is a medical condition where the stomach's liquefied contents will travel back up the esophagus, sometimes into the throat.
These contents contain seriously damaging levels of pepsin and stomach acid.
In smaller cases, patients can suffer extreme damage to their esophagi.
Unfortunately, once you get gastro-esophageal reflux disease your will most likely suffer it for some time because it is a chronic problem.
When the esophagus is damaged, it also becomes a seriously chronic problem.
There are treatments available to improve the condition of the esophagus, but if stopped the original symptoms and suffering can return in as little as a few weeks.
However, when your doctor diagnoses you with gastro-esophageal reflux disease or GERD, he or she will use five specific things to be sure.
One of the most common symptoms of acid reflux disease is heartburn.
If your doctor suspects that your heartburn is due to acid reflux, then he or she will prescribe medicines that will reduce stomach acid production.
Your doctor will then assume, should your condition stop because of the medication, that you were an acid reflux sufferer.
The second diagnosis tool your doctor may recommend is endoscopy.
Your doctor will get you to swallow a tube so he can view your esophagus internally.
However, acid reflux sufferers usually have a perfectly normal looking one.
So, this form of diagnosis is only good for people with long-term acid reflux and subsequently damaged esophagi.
Note that this procedure may show other problems including an ulcer.
The next option is to have a biopsy.
Usually your doctor will recommend this if they suspect esophagus cancer.
However, it is also a good diagnostic tool for acid reflux, and can help the doctor see if there are any other causes.
The other option to diagnose acid reflux is for the doctor to examine your larynx and your throat.
The doctor may find that your larynx or throat is inflamed, which can indicate acid reflux or other serious conditions.
The final diagnostic tool your doctor will use is to do an esophageal acid test, which is considered to be the best way to diagnose gastro-esophageal reflux disease.
It is also considered to be not so intrusive.
Basically, a tube is inserted through your nose and moved down your throat into your esophagus for up to twenty-four hours.
A sensor at the end of the thin tube will measure the total acid that is refluxed during this time period.
Dependant on how serious your condition is, the condition you are suspected to be suffering, and the duration of time you have been suffering your symptoms, the doctor may use one or more of the tests.
Your doctor may choose to do the tests in a specific order to help eliminate other causes for your acid reflux.