GERD definition: GERD is a chronic digestive disorder caused by the reflux of stomach acid and occasionally bile into the esophagus, irritating the esophageal mucosa and causing a series of symptoms. GERD symptoms: reflux and heartburn. These two symptoms are the most typical and common, and many patients experience them frequently. If these symptoms occur more than twice a week, or if they seriously interfere with your quality of life, your doctor will diagnose it as GERD. Treatment principles: Many people can treat their heartburn symptoms by improving their lifestyle, or by buying some oral medication at the pharmacy, but this treatment is often short-lived and temporary, and is very prone to relapse. Properly diagnosed GERD requires standardized outpatient medication or even surgical anti-reflux treatment to have a lasting effect. GERD examination methods: Upper GI X-ray: also known as barium meal examination, is simply swallowed into the digestive system with barium-containing paste contrast agent, the barium will adhere to the wall of the digestive tract, and then use radiographic techniques to make the outline of the upper gastrointestinal tract (including the esophagus, stomach and intestines) visible, and to observe the intestinal wall for lesions. In addition, for esophagogastrointestinal dysfunction, barium meal examination under real-time observation can obtain visual results on its movement status, which cannot be replaced by any other examination. Gastrointestinal endoscopy: Gastrointestinal endoscopy is the most useful means of examining the digestive tract. A 1 cm diameter “tube” is inserted through the throat into the digestive tract of the person being examined, with a camera, light source and operating hole at the front of the tube, so that the gastrointestinal endoscope can not only observe the digestive tract, but also obtain specimens and perform treatment. Testing for acid reflux in the esophagus: The procedure is called a 24-hour pH test and involves endoscopy followed by the nasal insertion of a probe that senses acidity in a test tube, which is very thin, less than 2 cm in diameter, so the patient does not experience much discomfort. A microcomputer the size of a handheld game console is attached to the outside of the tube and the pH information is continuously recorded. It usually lasts for 24 hours and the patient can live normally with it, but all details of life that may cause changes in esophageal acidity should be recorded by the patient, such as sleeping, eating, lying down, sitting, walking, etc. Also if the patient has been taking oral acid making medication, the doctor may ask the patient to stop the medication temporarily in order to get the most accurate and natural results. Esophageal motility testing: Sometimes GERD patients have a combination of esophageal hiatal hernia, or esophageal motility dysfunction, and esophageal manometry can clearly show this abnormality and provide guidance for treatment.