Do you frequently experience heartburn after you eat? Have antacids become a staple of your diet? You might be suffering from a digestive disease like acid reflux. Dr. Saul M. Modlin in Garden City, New York, has experience diagnosing and managing acid reflux with innovative techniques and lifestyle changes. If you think you might be suffering from acid reflux, call Dr. Modlin today or schedule an appointment online.

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What is acid reflux?

Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a digestive issue that causes the backward flow of stomach acid into your esophagus, the tube that connects your throat to your stomach. During an acid reflux episode, you may taste regurgitated food or sour liquid at the back of your mouth or experience serious heartburn.

If you suffer from occasional episodes of acid reflux, lifestyle changes like losing excess weight, eating smaller meals, and avoiding foods that trigger your heartburn can help. Common acid reflux triggers include:

  • Fried or fatty foods
  • Chocolate
  • Peppermint
  • Alcohol
  • Nicotine

How is acid reflux diagnosed?

Dr. Modlin examines your esophagus using transnasal esophagoscopy (TNE). After spraying a numbing agent down your nose, he slides a small, soft, flexible scope through your nose, down to your esophagus, behind your larynx. This allows him to avoid your throat and bypass your gag reflex.

The damage from acid reflux often causes swelling to your larynx, which can impair your ability to swallow and increase your throat sensitivity. Dr. Modlin uses Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing with Sensory Testing (FEESSTⓇ) to help determine your risk of choking and aspiration, when food and liquids go into the lungs instead of the stomach.

How does the FEESST procedure work?

Used to diagnose severe cases of acid reflux, FEESST is a method and device used to measure your throat sensitivity and assess sensation during swallowing.

The FEESST procedure is a technique used to examine both the motor and sensory functions of swallowing, directly assessing your airway. Dr. Modlin endoscopically administers specific pulses of air to your larynx to stimulate your vocal cords. This causes them to close in response to the air pulses.

Dr. Modlin assesses your motor function by examining the strength of your muscles in the pharynx as they contract during phonation (speech production).

With the flexible endoscope in place, Dr. Modlin also administers various consistencies of food and liquid. He dyes them green so they are visible in the scope. This allows him to evaluate your swallowing functionality and any evidence of airway penetration and aspiration.

If you think you might be suffering from acid reflux, call Dr. Modlin or schedule an appointment online.