24-Hour pH Monitoring

24-hour pH monitoring measures acid levels in your esophagus—the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach—over a full day. It helps your doctor determine how much reflux you are experiencing and whether reflux episodes are associated with your symptoms.

Your doctor may recommend this test to evaluate persistent heartburn, regurgitation, chronic cough, hoarseness, or other symptoms that may be related to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It can also help explain why symptoms continue despite treatment.

A thin, flexible catheter (tube) is gently passed through your nose into your esophagus. Numbing medication may be used to reduce discomfort during placement. The test does not require sedation.

The catheter is secured to your cheek and connected to a small portable recorder. It remains in place for approximately 24 hours while you return home and go about most of your usual activities.

During the monitoring period, you will record your meals, periods of lying down, and any symptoms. Our team will explain how to use the recorder and keep this information.

Our team will provide specific instructions about when to stop eating and drinking before your appointment.

Depending on the purpose of the test, your doctor may ask you to continue or temporarily stop acid-reducing medications. Do not stop any medications unless instructed to do so. Be sure to tell your doctor about all prescription and over-the-counter medications you take.

You may notice the catheter when swallowing or experience mild irritation in your nose or throat. You can generally eat, drink, speak, and sleep with it in place.

Unless instructed otherwise, follow your usual eating and daily routines so the test captures a representative day. Keep the recorder dry and follow our team’s instructions about bathing and physical activity.

You will return the following day to have the catheter removed and return the recorder and your symptom diary. Removal is quick and does not require sedation.

Your doctor will review the recordings to assess acid exposure and the relationship between reflux episodes and your symptoms. The results will help guide your treatment plan.

24-hour pH monitoring is generally safe. Temporary nose or throat discomfort, gagging during placement, and minor nosebleeds may occur. Serious complications, such as injury to the esophagus, are very rare.