Heartburn diagnosis and treatment without the heartache

If you’re suffering from heartburn more than twice per week, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (or GERD), which can lead to more serious medical problems when left untreated.

To diagnose this condition in the past, catheters attached to a recording device were passed through the nose and into the esophagus.

Today, along with endoscopic biopsies, the Bravo™ pH monitoring system allows patients to maintain their regular diet and lifestyle without the embarrassment and discomfort of old-fashioned monitoring systems to accurately diagnose acid reflux-related conditions.

A small transmitter, about the size of a pill, is attached to the wall of the esophagus where a small recording device receives signals from up to nine feet away. The test takes place over the next 24 to 48 hours, measuring the amount of acid that enters your esophagus. When the test is over, the capsule passes through your system and is eliminated from your body.

Bravo pH monitoring is safe and reliable, but a consultation with Dr. Karyotakis will be necessary to make sure this procedure is right for you.