Serious side effects of drinking cold water

In general, drinking cold water is not terrible for you and can even be beneficial to healthy people. According to a survey, 79% of respondents said they prefer to drink cold water because it feels refreshing, especially on hot days or after exercise. Numerous research has indicated that it aids in boosting low blood pressure, weight reduction, and metabolism rates.

For people with specific medical issues, cold water can have drawbacks that should be considered. It can worsen “cold stress” in people who already have weakened immune systems and make it harder for people to maintain a healthy core body temperature in emergency situations.

Blood arteries may narrow as a result, raising risks for people with high blood pressure. Drinking cold water can cause severe discomfort in some medical conditions, such as achalasia and tooth sensitivity.

Despite the difficulties associated with drinking cold water, social and cultural norms as well as individual desire are important. Cold water always tastes better to individuals, according to Julie Metos, associate dean of the University of Utah’s College of Health. Dr. Karel Talavera of KU Leuven in Belgium discovered that drinking cold water can occasionally be more enticing since the chilly temperature hides unpleasant flavors.

Serious side effects of drinking cold water

Drinking cold water can increase the risk of developing achalasia, a rare disorder that makes it difficult for food to move from the esophagus to the stomach, as well as headaches, teeth sensitivity, poor gastric emptying, and “cold stress.” Although tooth sensitivity and headaches are more frequent in people with similar underlying diseases, these side effects are often uncommon.

The dangers of drinking cold water under specific conditions have been established by the research listed below.

Nasal mucus becomes thicker

The American College of Chest Physicians discovered in 1978 research that nasal mucus thickened after drinking cold water and lasted for more than 30 minutes.

Pain and headache after drinking 150 ml of ice-cold water

According to a 2001 study by P. Mattson of the Department of Neuroscience at the University Hospital in Uppsala, Sweden, 7.6% of women had pain after consuming this amount of ice-cold water.

Sensitive teeth.

Some patients report experiencing a stabbing sensation, according to US specialists from the McCarl Dental Group in Maryland. Others feel a lasting, dull pain after consuming hot or cold drinks.

Gastric movement.

According to a 2020 study conducted at Japan’s Graduate School of Sport Sciences at Waseda University, drinking water at 2°C (35.6°F) after 10 minutes reduced gastric contractions to roughly six times every three minutes, while those who drank water at 60°C (140°F) had just under ten contractions per three minutes.

Achalasia (difficulty moving food from the esophagus to the stomach or difficulty passing food from the esophagus to the stomach).

Drinking water that is colder than 2°C (35.6°F), as discovered by Yutang Ren and colleagues at China’s Peking Union Medical College Hospital, can make achalasia symptoms like chest pain and difficulty swallowing worse.

Serious side effects of drinking cold water

Issues related to heat exhaustion.

Drinking cold water when suffering from heat exhaustion, according to Dr. David Schultz of Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana, can stimulate the vagus nerves (in the esophagus and stomach which control involuntary activity).

Immune system degeneration

Drinking cold water can create “cold stress,” or the body’s inability to warm itself, according to Dr. Pallavi Suyog Uttekar, MD, a clinician in human physiology. Among other symptoms, this condition can cause the blood vessels in the throat to narrow. If this does happen, it may temporarily lower the body’s capacity to fight against viruses and germs and reduce white blood cells, albeit it is more likely to happen in extreme cases where the body is already straining to warm itself.

Which Body Parts Can Be Affected by Cold Water?

Drinking cold water can affect the teeth, heart, blood pressure, throat and respiratory system, brain and nervous system, stomach and digestive system, and immune system.

The effects of drinking cold water on these bodily areas have been demonstrated by the study listed below.

Teeth.

According to dentist Dr. Robert H. DeWitt, who practices in the Washington Metropolitan Area, gum disease, severe plaque buildup, or broken teeth that expose sensitive nerves by removing the tooth’s protective coating are the main causes of dental sensitivity to cold water.

Heart.

Drinking 250ml of cold water compared to drinking water that was room temperature dramatically lowered heart rates, according to research at Taiwan’s National Yang-Ming University of Medicine. Similarly, a study conducted by the Department of Medicine at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland discovered that drinking cold water boosted energy expenditure over 90 minutes by 2.9% and decreased the workload on the heart by roughly 4.8 bph.

Blood and arterial pressure

According to a 2013 study from the Department of Cardiology at China’s Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, drinking water that is 4°C (39.2°F) can raise blood pressure in healthy students for an average of 22 minutes. The International University of Health and Welfare at Japan’s School of Health Sciences Satoshi Kubota discovered that drinking cold water causes blood vessels to contract, stopping blood from reaching the extremities and increasing blood pressure.
respiratory system and throat. According to K Saketkhoo et al, drinking water might cause mucus to become thicker, which can cause respiratory distress.

Respiratory system and throat.

Drinking cold water, according to a 2012 study by the Chinese Academy of Medical Science, can make it harder to swallow and induce chest pain, achalasia, and other esophageal motility issues.

Nerve system and the brain.

The University Hospital in Uppsala, Sweden’s Dr. P. Mattson discovered that consuming cold water can cause unexpected headaches. Additionally, Dr. David Schultz of Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana, cautions that exposure to ice cold water might cause a neurological system reaction that results in loss of consciousness in those who are experiencing heat exhaustion.

Serious side effects of drinking cold water

The digestive system and stomach.

According to studies, drinking cold water can make achalasia symptoms worse by making swallowing more difficult and by making it harder for food to pass from the stomach into the digestive tract. Although these difficulties are uncommon, those who currently experience these symptoms may find that they make them worse.

Immune system

Drinking cold water can cause “cold stress” in extreme situations if a person is already exposed to extremely cold and damp conditions, which prevents the body from warming up. In turn, this may result in a decrease in the body’s immunological responses and momentary drops in white blood cell levels.

Why Do My Teeth Hurt When I Drink Cold Water?

If you already have sensitive teeth due to prior dental issues that have exposed the nerves, they pain when you drink cold water. The loss of dental enamel’s barrier function exposes the nerve canals, according to Crest, a Procter and Gamble firm that specializes in dental goods. Dentinal tubules are the name for these canals, and when they move under the influence of cold water and come into contact with the nerves, they cause a dull discomfort or stabbing sensation.

According to Robert H. DeWitt, a dentist in Washington, DC, tooth sensitivity can be brought on by aggressive brushing, teeth grinding while you sleep, toothpastes with abrasive chemicals intended for teeth whitening, gum disease, the accumulation of bacterial plaque, cracked teeth, or the decay of old fillings. Acid produced by oral bacteria gradually dissolves the protective enamel coating of teeth, causing sensitivity. The discomfort is then caused by the cold water triggering the nerves.