If you have frequent heartburn or other symptoms of GERD, you may want to see your doctor. Only a physical exam and diagnostic tests performed by a healthcare professional can determine if you have GERD.

• Medical History and Physical Exam
• Barium Upper GI Series
• Esophageal Manometry
• Upper Endoscopy
• Esophageal pH Monitoring

Your doctor will review your symptoms with you and perform a complete physical exam. The more you tell your physician about your symptoms, the better. Your doctor needs as much information about your symptoms as possible.

You most likely will discuss:

• Your eating and drinking habits
• Your sleeping habits
• Your smoking habits

A barium upper GI series is an outpatient test used to examine your upper gastrointestinal (GI) system. The test involves an X-ray machine called a fluoroscope that shows the esophagus, stomach, and upper part of the small intestine.

For the test, patients drink liquid barium, a dye that allows your doctor to visualize your upper GI tract. As the barium travels through your digestive system, it coats the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine. Fluoroscopy allows the physician to track the barium through the digestive system.

The X-ray monitors the barium dye as it travels through your digestive system, helping the physician see any potential problems.

Esophageal manometry is an outpatient procedure used to test the strength and muscle coordination of the lower esophageal sphincter. The test allows your doctor to see any problems with movement and pressure in the esophagus.

A tube is inserted through the nose and down the throat, down the esophagus, and into the stomach. It measures how well the esophagus performs peristalsis, a motion that pushes food from your throat to your stomach. The test also measures how well your lower esophageal sphincter contracts to keep food and liquid in the stomach.