Bariatric & General Surgery Center
Now Serving The Metro Atlanta & More
Now offering Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery
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Bariatric & General Surgery Center
Now Serving The Metro Atlanta & More
Now offering Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery
Acid reflux, or “gastroesophageal reflux (GERD),” is a condition in which your stomach contents come back up into your esophagus.
Stomach acid that touches the lining of your esophagus can cause heartburn, also called acid indigestion. This condition may be referred to as:
GER that occurs more than twice a week for a few weeks could be GERD. GERD can lead to more serious health problems over time. If you think you have GERD, you should see your doctor.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a more severe and long-lasting form of GER. GERD affects about 20 percent of the U.S. population.
GER and GERD happen when your lower esophageal sphincter becomes weak or relaxes when it shouldn’t, causing stomach contents to rise into the esophagus. The lower esophageal sphincter becomes weak or relaxes due to certain things, such as:
increased pressure on your abdomen from:
Anyone can develop GERD, some for unknown reasons. You are more likely to have GERD if you are
A hiatal hernia can also cause GERD. Hiatal hernia is a condition in which the opening in your diaphragm lets the upper part of the stomach move up into your chest, which lowers the pressure in the esophageal sphincter.
Without treatment, GERD can sometimes cause serious complications over time, such as:
Esophagitis is inflammation in the esophagus. Adults who have chronic esophagitis over many years are more likely to develop precancerous changes in the esophagus.
With GERD, you might breathe stomach acid into your lungs. The stomach acid can then irritate your throat and lungs, causing respiratory problems, such as:
GERD can sometimes cause Barrett’s esophagus. A small number of people with Barrett’s esophagus develop a rare yet often deadly type of cancer of the esophagus.
An esophageal stricture happens when your esophagus becomes too narrow. Esophageal strictures can lead to problems with swallowing.
If you have gastroesophageal reflux (GER), you may taste food or stomach acid in the back of your mouth.
The most common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is regular heartburn, a painful, burning feeling in the middle of your chest, behind your breastbone, and in the middle of your abdomen. Not all adults with GERD have heartburn.
Other common GERD symptoms include:
Some symptoms of GERD come from its complications, including those that affect your lungs.
You should see a doctor if you have persistent GER symptoms that do not get better with over-the-counter medications or change in your diet. Call a doctor right away if you:
In most cases, at Ideal Body Institute, we will diagnose gastroesophageal reflux (GER) by reviewing your symptoms and medical history. If your symptoms don’t improve with lifestyle changes and medications, you may need testing.
If your GER symptoms don’t improve, if they come back frequently, or if you have trouble swallowing, your doctor may recommend testing you for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
At Ideal Body Institute, (formerly Georgia Surcharge), we offer our patients quality care at affordable rates, and fast, same-day services. If you walk in and meet the medical criteria, you can get your acid reflux treatment right away. We are a multi-specialty surgery center with a state-of-the-art private clinic. Several tests can help our specialists diagnose GERD. Your doctor may order more than one test to make a diagnosis.
In an upper GI endoscopy, the doctor uses an endoscope (a flexible narrow camera) to see inside your upper GI tract. This procedure takes place at a hospital or an outpatient center.
An upper GI series uses an x-ray and looks at the shape of your upper GI tract and can find problems related to GERD, including:
The most accurate procedure to detect acid reflux is esophageal pH and impedance monitoring. Esophageal pH and impedance monitoring will measure the amount of acid in your esophagus while you do normal things, such as eating and sleeping.
Bravo wireless esophageal pH monitoring also measures and records the pH in your esophagus to determine if you have GERD. A doctor temporarily attaches a small capsule to the wall of your esophagus during an upper endoscopy. The capsule measures pH levels in the esophagus and transmits information to a receiver. The receiver is about the size of a pager, which you wear on your belt or waistband.
You will follow your usual daily routine during monitoring, which usually lasts 48 hours. The receiver has several buttons on it that you will press to record symptoms of GERD, such as heartburn. The nurse will tell you which symptoms to record. You will be asked to maintain a diary to record certain events such as when you start and stop eating and drinking, when you lie down and when you get back up.
To prepare for the test, talk to us about any medications you take. You will be informed whether you can eat or drink before the procedure. After about seven to ten days the capsule will fall off the esophageal lining and pass through your digestive tract.
Esophageal manometry measures muscle contractions in your esophagus. We may order this procedure if you’re thinking about anti-reflux surgery.