Heartburn Treatment Program Phone: 301-877-5780 THAT BURNING SENSATION
The Heartburn Treatment Center at Southern Maryland Hospital may help you and your physician better treat your heartburn or acid reflux disease with diagnostic testing. Our tests can measure the strength and function of your esophagus and help identify causes of heartburn, reflux or swallowing problems.
Popularly known as acid reflux disease, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a digestive disorder that is caused by gastric acid flowing from the stomach into the esophagus. Symptoms usually include heartburn (also called acid indigestion). Other symptoms include difficulty in swallowing, burning in the mouth or hoarseness in the morning, chest pain or non-cardiac pressure.
Doctors usually recommend lifestyle and dietary changes to relieve heartburn. Many people with GERD also need medication.
If your symptoms persist even after lifestyle changes or drugs, you may need additional tests. SMHC provides tests such as barium swallow studies, upper endoscopies, esophageal manometry and pH monitoring.
Surgery is an option when medication and lifestyle changes do not work, and may also be a reasonable alternative to a lifetime of drugs and discomfort.
Other Heartburn Factors
Other factors that may contribute to GERD include alcohol, smoking and being overweight.
Most of the time, certain foods are the culprits that aggravate reflux problems – foods that include citrus fruits, chocolate, drinks with caffeine, fatty and fried foods, garlic and onions, mint flavorings, and spicy or tomato-based foods like spaghetti sauce, chili and pizza.
Ask your doctor if GERD is a problem. Then come into SMHC for relief.
The Heartburn Treatment Center at Southern Maryland Hospital may help you and your physician better treat your heartburn or acid reflux disease with diagnostic testing. Our tests can measure the strength and function of your esophagus and help identify causes of heartburn, reflux or swallowing problems.