At first, drinking milk may seem to help the heartburn, but after the milk washes the excess acid from the esophagus back down into the stomach, the problem often just becomes worse. Heartburn and milk are, in fact, a bad combination because milk can actually cause the stomach to produce even more acid than it was initially. This is because milk contains calcium and protein as well as fat, which all need digesting, and that's the primary job of stomach acid. More stomach acid, more acid reflux, more heartburn.
If giving up on milk is too much to contemplate, you can just try drinking less, or switching over to soy milk from the cow variety. This may or may not work, but it has to be worth persevering with as heartburn and milk are not a good combination. Over the counter antacids may be able to help for a while by reducing the amount of acid your stomach produces, but they are really only a stop gap measure. Far better to look at that serious milk habit you've got!
Usually the first thing to try when suffering from heartburn is to adjust your diet. If milk looks to be the cause of the problem then giving up on the white stuff for a while should at least establish some kind of norm from where you can move forward. It may be though that the cow juice is getting a bad rap and that something else in your diet is causing the pain. Other types of foods are often the main trigger for your heartburn, and milk may be just there at the time. Tomatoes and citrus fruits, including juices, can be one of the biggest contributors to heartburn, so avoiding these foods may also be a good idea.
With the help of over the counter or prescription medications, you may still be able to enjoy your daily bowl of cereal or a glass of milk or two. If your heartburn is serious enough, and does not lessen with dietary changes or over the counter medications, you should consider visiting your doctor to find out if you need prescription medication for your condition.
