Many people enjoy drinking ice water, but its health effects have long been debated. Numerous studies have shown that there are both benefits and drawbacks to it. Dr. Yeh Chi-Min, the attending physician of Taiwan Weixin Clinic of Chinese Medicine and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner, warned that a persistent craving for ice water might indicate an underlying health issue and provided advice on who should limit their consumption of it.
The Effects of Drinking Ice Water on Certain Health Conditions
Achalasia is a swallowing disorder in which the lower esophageal sphincter fails to relax, preventing food from entering the stomach. A study published in the Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility found that drinking ice water at 35.6 degrees Fahrenheit exacerbated the symptoms of achalasia. The study revealed that low temperatures increased the resting pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter, prolonged esophageal contraction, and worsened swallowing difficulties.Additionally, drinking cold water may trigger migraines. A study involving 669 female participants found that 51 of them (approximately 8 percent) experienced headaches after drinking a glass of cold water. The study also discovered that women who had experienced migraines in the past year were twice as likely to develop headaches after drinking cold water compared to those who had never had migraines.
