Wondering how drinking chilled water affects your heart? As per the experts from the best hospital in Kolkata drinking cold water can have a drastic impact on the veins and can even elevate the risks of a heart attack.
An electrocardiogram documented atrial fibrillation, which resolved spontaneously after several hours. The heart and the esophagus are in close proximity. Ingestion of very cold drinks or desserts can trigger paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and probably other arrhythmias.
Deglutition-induced atrial tachycardia is thought to occur in ~0.6% of patients with paroxysmal atrial arrhythmias. Cold foods and drinks are more likely to cause cooling of the left atrium through the esophagus, which may also play a role in the trigger of atrial fibrillation.
Too much acid in the esophagus could also lead to the problem. Excess acid can be due to having heartburn for a long time. Some people notice esophageal spasm symptoms after eating hot or very cold food or drink. But spasms can happen anytime, even when you're not eating or drinking.
Disturbs digestion:
According to experts, drinking cold water and cold beverages contracts blood vessels, ultimately restricting digestion. It also hinders the natural process of nutrient absorption during digestion. As the body gets busy regulating the body temperature, its focus gets diverted from digestion.
The Chinese believe that all food and drinks should be taken at normal body temperature, or 100 degrees or greater, because cold foods weaken the Spleen and Stomach. In TCM (traditional Chinese medicine), the Spleen needs a moderate temperature in order to function properly.
Cold temperatures can also cause spasms of the smooth muscle that surrounds the small airways in your lungs, which can produce shortness of breath and a feeling of chest heaviness that is unrelated to your heart.
The risks and disadvantages of drinking cold water include thickening of mucus causing respiratory difficulty, headaches, tooth sensitivity, slowing gastric emptying, aggravating achalasia (a rare disease making it difficult for food to pass from the esophagus to the stomach), and causing 'cold stress'.
The shock of cold water against the skin triggers a fight-or-flight response. The adrenal glands pump out extra epinephrine (adrenaline) and other stress hormones. They cause blood vessels supplying the skin to narrow. This conserves heat, but it shifts even more blood to the chest, taxing the heart.
Adenovirus typically causes cold symptoms, but if it reaches the heart, it can trigger an irregular heart beat call an arrhythmia and even sudden cardiac death.
The cold weather takes away your body heat so your heart needs to work harder to keep you warm. Your blood vessels will narrow so your heart can focus on pumping blood to your brain and other major organs. Cold temperatures can cause: your heart rate to increase.
When you get sick — a run-of-the-mill illness, like a cold or the flu — you may have noticed your heart beats a little faster than normal.
Foods High in Carbohydrates and Sugar
If you have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), foods high in processed sugars and carbohydrates can trigger heart palpitations. These foods can force your blood sugar levels to spike, and wild swings in your blood sugar levels may increase the likelihood of experiencing palpitations.
"Cold water can boost metabolism and keep your body from overheating, [while] warm water can help digestion and ease constipation." Go with the water temp that you prefer more and feels best for your body.
Drinking cold water or cold carbonated water for orthostatic pre-syncope may increase blood pressure and improve baroreflex function.
We do NOT recommend using hot water from any tap for either direct consumption or food or beverage preparation. This is because hot water can dissolve contaminants more quickly than cold water and hot water systems (tanks, boilers, pipes, etc.)
Frequent pain in the chest when swallowing is often the result of a problem in the esophagus. This may be due to irritation from medications, foods, or stomach acid. Alternatively, pressure on the stomach or a hiatal hernia may cause difficulties.
People with coronary heart disease often suffer angina pectoris (chest pain or discomfort) when they're in cold weather. Besides cold temperatures, high winds, snow and rain also can steal body heat.
Under the precepts of Chinese medicine, balance is key, and hot or warm water is considered essential to balance cold and humidity; in addition, it is believed to promote blood circulation and toxin release.
Hot Water is Good for You!
In traditional Chinese medicine (中医, zhōng yī), hot water is used to expel excess cold and humidity from the body, and it is believed to promote blood circulation. This helps detoxify the body and relax the muscles.
In traditional Chinese medicine it's believed that drinking hot water kick starts your digestive system. The hot water increases blood flow and helps with your organ function. Cold water, on the other hand, has the opposite effect. It makes your organs contract and slows down your entire system.