Heartburn Center

Diagnosing Heartburn

That burning sensation in your chest may be more than just discomfort. It could be a sign of a weakened muscle in your esophagus. When the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) doesn’t close properly, acid and bile can flow back into your esophagus, causing heartburn. Over time, this can lead to damage and lasting pain.

At the Heartburn Center at Broward Health Coral Springs, our specialists use advanced diagnostic tools to identify the exact cause of your symptoms. This allows us to recommend the most effective treatment for your unique condition.

Diagnostic tests may include:

• pH testing – Measures the amount of acid, gas and liquids escaping into your esophagus over 24 hours. As part of the process, we’ll ask you to keep a diary of your symptoms to track the impact on your health.
• Bravo 96-hour pH testing – Wireless acid monitoring that measures acid by a tiny capsule placed in your esophagus using an endoscope. Light sedation is used while inserting the tracker.
• EndoFLIP (endoluminal functional lumen imaging probe) – A minimally invasive technology that measures the dimensions, pressure and movement of the esophagus during an endoscopy.
• Esophageal manometry – Checks how effectively your esophagus muscles move food to your stomach, helping diagnose issues or conditions often mistaken for acid reflux.
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)/Upper GI endoscopy – Using a tiny camera on the end of a small, flexible tube called an endoscope, we take samples or biopsies to check your throat for inflammation or cancer cells.
• Barium swallow test – Also known as a barium esophagogram, this imaging study helps our heartburn experts check for problems in your mouth, throat and esophagus related to acid reflux or GERD.
• CT imaging – Scans to find tumors and check lymph nodes and bones.
• Radiofrequency ablation – Removes abnormal, malignant cells from your esophagus.