What if symptoms persist for ACID REFLUX DISEASE (GERD)?.
If your heartburn does not improve with lifestyle changes or drugs, you may need additional tests. A barium swallow radiograph uses X-rays to help spot abnormalities such as a hiatal hernia and severe inflammation of the esophagus. With this test, you drink a solution and then X-rays are taken. Mild irritation will not appear on this test, although narrowing of the esophagus — called stricture — ulcers, hiatal hernia and other problems will. Upper endoscopy is more accurate than a barium swallow radiograph and may be performed in a hospital or a doctor’s office. The doctor will spray your throat to numb it and slide down a thin, flexible plastic tube called an endoscope. A tiny camera in the endoscope allows the doctor to see the surface of the esophagus and to search for abnormalities. If you have had moderate to severe symptoms and this procedure reveals injury to the esophagus, usually no other tests are needed to confirm ACID REFLUX DISEASE (GERD). The doctor may use tiny tweezers
