Nauheed Cyrusi stops having certain foods, drinks to find out why she was feeling a lingering ‘weird burn’ in her throat: ‘This is my personal experience’

To understand more, we turned to Dr Manoj Kumar Lath, consultant ENT at Manipal Hospital Bhubaneshwar, who said that occasionally drinking tea, coffee, or water that is too hot can result in a burn or discomfort when the liquid is swallowed. “The drink is hot enough to irritate the delicate inner lining of the throat and esophagus. Repeated exposure to very hot liquids may cause mild inflammation, soreness, or, rarely, injury to the inner lining of the food tube. Not everyone experiences the same sensitivity to the temperature of these beverages, as some people are simply more sensitive depending on the health of their throat, level of hydration, and acid reflux or other health conditions that exist,” said Dr Lath.

Dr Aniket Mule, consultant in internal medicine at KIMS Hospitals, Thane, concurred that most people underestimate the damage that very hot liquids can cause. “Constant sipping of steaming tea, coffee, or even plain hot water may irritate and injure the delicate lining of the throat and esophagus. The constant presence of hot liquid triggers inflammation, which in turn causes an unusual burning or tingling sensation when swallowing. It’s not a burn in itself-it’s more like the slow, thermal wear and tear from years of drinking liquids that are too hot,” said Dr Mule.

But isn’t ‘burning in the throat or chest usually due to acidity or reflux? How can one tell the difference?

That’s a very common confusion, said Dr Mule, adding that acidity or acid reflux is generally a warm, internal burn that aggravates after eating or when lying down. A hot drink burn is different. “It is superficial and sometimes described as a ‘cold burn’ or scratchiness with swallowing. The key difference is that antacids or acid-reducing medicines may not always relieve discomfort if the discomfort is due to a thermal injury. Recurring symptoms are best treated by a doctor rather than self-medication,” said Dr Mule.

Do you often drink hot liquids? (Photo: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

So, what’s the right temperature to drink tea, coffee, or even water?

Let it cool a bit—preferably below 60°C. “A simple trick: if you need to blow on your drink before sipping, it’s too hot. Lukewarm or mildly warm will be perfectly fine and much safer for your throat,” said Dr Mule.

Any simple lifestyle tips?

*Avoid drinking anything that seems uncomfortably scalding. “It is a good idea to let beverages cool down a little before drinking or take smaller sips after drinking. Keeping hydrated will also help protect your throat. If the pain persists after taking these safeguards, consult a specialist,” said Dr Lath.

*Prefer room-temperature or slightly warm water.
*Avoid extremely spicy food right after hot beverages.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.

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