Question: Milk and even water sometimes cause heartburn for me. What could be causing this, an ulcer? And what should I do about it?
Dr. Hibberd's answer:
Milk or water will not cause a peptic ulcer. Heartburn after drinking water probably comes from reflux of stomach acid making its way back up into the esophagus. Heartburn from milk usually occurs because of excess stomach-acid secretion it can stimulate, as well as delayed gastric emptying sometimes seen with milk drinkers.
You should seek a doctor’s advice. He or she will probably place you on a drug like Nexium or Protonix for three to four weeks to see if it addresses your heartburn. If your symptoms persist, even after you start taking heartburn meds, your doctor may schedule you for an evaluation for H. pylori — the bacterial microbe that causes ulcers — and possibly an endoscopic evaluation.
© 2026 NewsmaxHealth. All rights reserved.