Heartburn (Overview, Symptoms, Diagnoses, Causes, and 20 Home Remedies)

Heartburn Diagnosis

However, a lot of people normally experience heartburn in their daily lives, and they just take simple antacids from pharmacies. But when the symptoms persist and are more severe, then a consultation with a doctor is made to check if the person has developed GERD. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a serious digestive disorder that affects the lower esophageal sphincter due to the acids refluxing back into the esophagus. The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is a valve opening from the stomach to the esophagus, and in the case of GERD, the smooth muscles in the sphincter damages with time causing the involuntary passage of stomach content back into the food pipe.

A person should seek medical help if there is an occurrence of forceful vomiting, and there is difficulty in breathing after the vomit. A cardiologist and a gastroenterologist assess a person’s heart health and digestive health and then devise a treatment plan according to the patient’s condition. Taking into account the condition and the severity of the patient’s symptoms, a doctor might recommend one of the following diagnostic methods:

Barium X-ray

If there is a persistent occurrence of vomiting, chest pain, and difficulty in swallowing, a doctor goes for the X-ray to view the shape, size, and condition of the tissues of the esophagus and stomach. The doctor lets you swallow barium and then use X-ray imaging to get clear imaging.