As children, we tend to gulp down a cup of milk in a jiffy. While we dismiss the immediate burning sensation as temporary discomfort, what if it could lead to a major health problem? A new study by University of Oxford researchers, published in the International Journal of Cancer, indicates precisely this.
The researchers based their findings on an analysis of the drink consumption habits of almost 980,000 people in the UK. According to the study, regularly consuming very hot tea and coffee triples the risk of developing oesophageal cancer.
“Very hot” here has been defined as any drink at 65 degrees Celsius or above. For example, tea or coffee made immediately after a kettle has fully boiled falls into this category.
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This is not all. The researchers observed that consuming six or more hot drinks daily also raises the cancer risk. This assumes significance, as oesophageal cancer is one of the most malignant cancers, causing over 0.54 million deaths on average annually.
Its symptoms include difficulty swallowing food, indigestion, a persistent cough, a hoarse voice, and even weight loss.
The researchers’ advice, therefore, is to wait a few minutes before drinking a cup of tea or coffee, allowing it to cool down to a safer level. At the same time, they caution that smoking and alcohol remain more potent factors responsible for oesophageal cancer.