Limit hot drinks to protect your esophagus

For millions of people around the world, drinking something hot is part of the daily routine. Be it coffee, tea, soup, or any other infusion, these drinks have become a source of comfort and pleasure. Yet, an innocent routine can mask a health risk, especially for the oesophagus. Several studies have shown that the regular consumption of excessively hot drinks increases the risk of developing oesophagal cancer, a silent but often severe disease. The awareness of this risk and the embracing of healthy practices may prove vital to prevention.

What is Esophageal Cancer?

Oesophageal cancer is a malignant tumour that develops in the lining of the oesophagus—the organ connecting the throat to the stomach. There are two major types:

• Squamous Cell Carcinoma: The most common type in the upper and middle parts of the oesophagus; usually associated with tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and repeated scalding from excessively hot beverages.
• Adenocarcinoma: Most often originates in the lower part of the oesophagus and is closely related to GERD or obesity.

Esophageal cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers due to its mostly late-stage diagnosis. Early signs and symptoms may be easily neglected or mistaken as ordinary digestive disturbances, such as heartburn or difficulty swallowing.

How Do Hot Beverages Increase the Risk?

Drinking very hot beverages frequently causes micro-lesions in the oesophagus’s delicate lining. Whenever these lesions start to heal, a chronic inflammatory environment is caused.

Repeated inflammation may:

• Damage the DNA in cells of the oesophagus.
• Promote cellular mutations.
• Predispose to precancerous conditions, like Barrett's esophagus, which is a major risk for adenocarcinoma.

What this really means is that extreme heat acts like an irritant and predisposes the oesophagus to hazardous cellular changes.

Scientific Evidence for the Link

Several research works link the consumption of very hot beverages to oesophagal cancer:

• Iranian Study (2019): Performed on over 50,000 subjects and depicted a twofold increase in the risk of oesophagal cancer among people consuming tea above 70°C.
• Chinese Research: Demonstrated a higher chance of getting oesophagal cancer when hot beverage intake is combined with smoking or alcohol consumption.
• WHO Classification: Beverages taken above 65°C have been classified as "probably carcinogenic to humans."

These findings highlight the need for caution about the temperature of everyday beverages.

Symptoms of Esophageal Cancer

Early diagnosis of oesophagal cancer can be made by recognizing the early signs. The most common symptoms include:

• Dysphagia or difficulty swallowing: A feeling of blockage or discomfort when swallowing, often the earliest symptom.
• Chest pain: Burning or aching behind the sternum.
• Unexplained weight loss: Often related to decreased intake of food or malabsorption.
• Hoarseness or chronic cough: This occurs if the cancer damages the vocal cords or windpipe.
• Severe acid reflux: Sometimes accompanied by vomiting or bleeding.

If these symptoms persist, consult a doctor immediately.

Detecting Hazardous Temperature

The optimal temperature for drinking beverages is 50°C to 60°C. Above this, the heat will burn esophageal tissues.

How to know if your drink is too hot?

• If you have to blow on it several times to avoid a burn, it's too hot.
• If your tongue feels burned or painful after a sip, the temperature is excessive.

Tips to Lower Risks

You can easily protect your oesophagus by making a few changes to your daily routine:

• Let drinks cool: Wait at least five minutes after pouring a hot beverage.
• Take the temperature with a thermometer: Use a food thermometer to keep beverages below 60°C.
• Go for warm, not hot: Warm drinks are safer and can still be pleasant.
• Avoid insulated cups: These containers keep liquids at high temperatures for longer, increasing the potential for burns.
• Avoid combining risks: Smoking and alcohol consumption amplify oesophagal injury, making hot beverages even riskier.

An Integrated Approach to Protect Your Health

Drinking beverages that are not too hot is only the first step; other prevention measures need to go along with this habit:

• Healthy Diet:

  • Fruits such as berries and citrus contain antioxidants that protect cells.
  • Green vegetables, high in fibre, help digestion and reduce reflux.

• Monitor Your Weight: Being overweight is linked with adenocarcinoma because it often results in chronic acid reflux.

• Address GERD: If frequent heartburn occurs, seek medical intervention to prevent chronic damage to the oesophagus.

• Stop smoking: Tobacco has a direct, negative impact on oesophagal cells and limits their ability to regenerate.

• Limit alcohol use: Alcohol irritates the tissues of the oesophagus and promotes cellular mutations.

Knowledge and Prevention over the long term

Despite the scientific evidence, many people still underestimate the dangers of hot beverages. Awareness campaigns play a vital role in informing the population about this silent risk.

In countries like South America, where mate is traditionally consumed at very high temperatures, efforts are underway to promote a cultural shift in serving temperature.

Drinking hot beverages is a universal pleasure, but it's essential to do so safely. Controlling the temperature of your drinks is a key preventive measure to protect your esophagus from long-term damage and reduce your risk of cancer.

Adopting healthy habits, monitoring early symptoms, and spreading awareness can help prevent this serious disease. Protecting your oesophagal health starts today—one sip at a time.