Acid reflux GERD occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus after eating, causing discomfort known as heartburn, and reoccurs two or more days per week for at least three months. Every year, there are 4.6 million doctor visits related to acid reflux disease (or GERD). This problem is often shrugged off as a random bout of food poisoning or just routine digestive malfunctions, but it should be taken seriously to prevent future disturbances.

Many people are surprised to hear about the more subtle symptoms of acid reflux GERD. Other than the most common - regurgitation, difficulty swallowing (also known as dysphagia), abdominal and chest pain - there are disturbances created by stomach acid that may masquerade as other things.

For example, other less common symptoms include: asthma, chronic cough and a sore throat or water brash - the bitter, salty or sour taste in the mouth that occurs when the salivary glands are stimulated by acidreflux. Generally, if you have chronic heartburn two or more days per week, despite treatment and diet alterations, then you should see your doctor about acid reflux.

When you see your doctor about acid reflux, there are several tests to determine if your heartburn may damage the esophagus or internal organs. The first test is called an Endoscopy, where a thin, flexible tube and video camera are passed into the mouth, down the esophagus and into the stomach. Don't worry - you'll be sedated and you won't feel a thing!

The second test your doctor may perform is called a Barium Esophagram. This test observes the shape of the esophagus, looking for abnormalities in the stomach and throat. You'll drink a chalky liquid containing barium, which coats the esophagus and stomach, and allows them to be viewed in an X-ray. A third procedure, known as Esophageal pH Monitoring, tests for the amount of acid in the esophagus over time.

In one variation of this test, a tiny tube goes in through the nose, into the esophagus and an acid monitor on the tip measures acid levels over a 24-hour period. The other way to monitor consists of attaching a medicine capsule sized monitor during an endoscopy, which tests acid over a 48-hour period when the monitor is passed out like food. While these may seem uncomfortable, keep in mind that it's better than dealing with a rotted esophagus later!

Acid reflux GERD often points to dietary problems. Sometimes it's not always the spicy food or the red wine -- but rather, an imbalance of dietary needs, which results in the malfunctioning of the digestion process. Without the right combination of chemical triggers, the pancreas, intestines and stomach valves don't know when to act.

The leading cause of death in industrialized nations is diet-related heart and organ failure. By seeing your doctor about acid reflux, you can easily get a handle on the underlying cause of these uncomfortable symptoms.