Should I drink cold ice water in the summer?

It's hot so I often drink ice water or cold water. Is drinking cold ice water every day harmful to health? (Tran Tu, 36 years old, Hanoi ).

Reply:

Drinking cold water helps quench thirst quickly, reduces body heat from the inside, thereby helping us feel cooler. Some studies show that ice cold water helps improve exercise performance. The optimal temperature for rehydration after exercise is 16 degrees Celsius, equivalent to the temperature of cold water.

However, cold ice water can be harmful to health if used too often. When drinking, the temperature of the throat area decreases, creating favorable conditions for viruses that cause respiratory diseases to develop. In particular, people with existing diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), laryngitis, bronchitis, etc. drinking cold ice water can damage the throat mucosa, making the symptoms of the disease worse. Research shows that drinking cold water makes the mucus in the nose thicker. People with flu or colds drinking cold water can make nasal congestion worse.

Unclean ice is also one of the causes of respiratory diseases. Bacteria and viruses in ice easily grow and develop in the throat area, increasing the risk of throat infection. Drinking unsanitary water also leads to harmful effects on the digestive system.

To balance thirst quenching and health benefits on hot days, you should drink cool water instead of cold water. If you want to use ice, you need to make ice from boiled or filtered water. If you buy ice outside, you need to choose a reputable place to ensure hygiene and safety. Each person should only drink cold ice water at certain times such as when exercising or doing strenuous activities to improve performance and rehydrate better. They should not drink it regularly. People with respiratory diseases should prioritize drinking water at room temperature or warm water to avoid throat damage.

Water intake is also important on hot days, to regulate body temperature and compensate for water loss due to sweating and sitting in air conditioning. The American Academy of Sciences , Engineering and Medicine recommends that women consume about 2.7 liters of water per day, and men about 3.7 liters of water. This amount of water comes from both food and drinks. When drinking water, it should be divided into many times, each time drinking small sips instead of drinking a lot at once.

Master, Resident Doctor Tran Duy Hung
Respiratory Department, Tam Anh General Hospital, Hanoi

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