1. if chest pain or difficulty swallowing occur
2. if symptoms persist despite medication
3. both of the above

You should contact your doctor if GERD symptoms persist, get worse or change. You should also contact your doctor if you experience more concerning symptoms like chest pain, difficulty swallowing, pain when swallowing, black or bloody stools or weight loss.

1. Tell your doctor about past or present allergies.
2. Tell your doctor about past or present illnesses.
3. both of the above

Your doctor requires a whole picture of your health to properly diagnosis GERD. Provide your doctor with an honest and detailed medical history, including any past or present allergies, and any past or present illnesses.

1. recreational drug use
2. supplements and herbal remedy use
3. both of the above

You should always tell your doctor about anything that you ingest, especially when a gastrointestinal diagnosis needs to be made. Be frank and thorough and tell your doctor about any recreational drug use, alcohol use, over-the-counter medication, prescription medication, supplement use including vitamins and herbal remedy use.

1. Your doctor may discontinue all medication and switch to supplements.
2. Your doctor may advise you to continue taking the medication even with side effects.
3. Your doctor may change the medication schedule.

There are several options your doctor may choose if you experience side effects related to GERD medication. Your doctor may suggest a different GERD medication altogether or a different medication schedule.

1. general practitioner
2. gastroenterologist
3. nephrologist

Typically, you will see your primary doctor or general practitioner before you see a specialist. After a thorough assessment, your primary doctor may suggest that you see a GERD specialists, also known as a gastroenterologist.

1. Different pharmacies may have slightly different medications.
2. The pharmacy can keep track of your medication for you.
3. both of the above

It is essential that you keep track of your medication use. Try purchasing all of your medication from one pharmacy that offers special services for medication tracking.

1. lifestyle changes
2. feelings related to GERD symptoms
3. stressful situations

In a GERD diary you want to track a lot of information essential for your gastrointestinal intervention, including any lifestyle changes you make, GERD medication, side effects, potential GERD triggers, GERD symptoms and food ingested.

1. A GERD diary can help you with lifestyle changes.
2. A GERD diary helps your doctor with diagnosis and treatment.
3. both of the above

You can greatly benefit from seeing patterns between your GERD symptoms and eating habits or poor lifestyle choices. Seeing these patterns may be an eye-opener for you and motivate you to change. A GERD diary is also very helpful for your doctor in terms of appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

1. 10 percent
2. 25 percent
3. 40 percent

Only one out of four people talk to their doctor about their GERD symptoms. This suggests that most people go about their daily lives with undiagnosed GERD.

1. most likely nothing
2. damage to the esophageal lining
3. infection and sepsis

Untreated GERD symptoms typically progress and get worse, eventually leading to permanent damage of the esophageal lining and other related problems, such as difficulty breathing.