GERD is often diagnosed simply by finding no improvement in heartburn symptoms in response to lifestyle changes and acid reflux medication. Gastroenterologists may also arrange the following investigations:
Trading blocs. A regional trading bloc is a group of countries within a geographical region that protect themselves from imports from non-members. Trading blocs are a form of economic integration, and increasingly shape the pattern of world trade. There are several types of trading bloc:
1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) chiefly. a. a closed meeting of the members of one party in a legislative chamber, etc, to coordinate policy, choose candidates, etc. b. such a bloc of politicians: the Democratic caucus in Congress. 2. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) chiefly. a. a group of leading politicians of one party.