Almost everyone experiences the discomfort of heartburn at some time. Frequent bouts of heartburn that occur two or more times a week may indicate the presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease, also called GERD. Heartburn is a digestive disorder that can cause chest pain and other symptoms. While drinking milk may provide temporary relief, this dairy product does not provide an effective method of managing heartburn.
Heartburn
Heartburn occurs when the esophageal sphincter muscle fails to keep the stomach contents from entering your esophagus. A painful burning sensation below your breastbone is the most common symptom that occurs when the partially digested food particles and stomach acid irritate the lining of the esophagus. Heartburn may occur for a variety of reasons, including overeating or the presence of a hiatal hernia, according to National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Milk
Drinking milk to relieve heartburn pain is a type of traditional remedy. Drinking this beverage may provide temporary relief as the cool liquid rinses the irritated esophagus and buffers and dilutes the stomach acid. Drinking whole milk may cause a rebound effect as the fat it contains signals the stomach to produce more acid.
Precautions
The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends avoiding full-fat dairy products, as well as other foods that can trigger heartburn, such as spicy foods, tomatoes, citrus juices and alcohol. Avoid lying down within two to three hours of eating food or drinking milk. Lying down with a full stomach can cause pressure against the esophageal sphincter muscle, increasing the risk of heartburn.
Considerations
While sipping on cold skim milk may help soothe heartburn pain, it does not eliminate the underlying cause and only serves to provide a temporary fix. Changing your eating habits by eating smaller meals can help minimize the frequency of heartburn. Other beneficial lifestyle changes include losing excess weight, avoiding tight clothing, reducing stress and sleeping with the head of your bed about 6 inches higher than the foot of your bed. Contact your doctor if self-help measures don't alleviate your discomfort after two or if you experience repeated episodes of heartburn for a period longer than two or three weeks. Notify your doctor immediately if you have black stools, vomit blood or chest pressure accompanies the burning pain.
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