Actually, there is no evidence to suggest that drinking cold water is bad for your health. On the contrary, even in a cold state, it can help us maintain body hydration. However, drinking cold water can temporarily cause some risks, such as a runny nose, making it difficult to breathe.
Therefore, it is recommended to drink warm water when you have a cold, as low-temperature fluids may worsen a stuffy nose. Drinking more water can actually help the body eliminate toxins, facilitate digestion, prevent constipation, and aid in weight loss.
Especially for Acidity and Migraine Sufferers
The majority of people will not experience health problems from consuming cold water, but it's a "yes" for those with acid reflux conditions, affecting the esophagus, or food pipe. In this condition, it becomes more difficult for someone to swallow food and drinks. Symptoms worsen if the person consumes cold water but improve with warm water.
In addition, a study in 2001 reported that as many as 7.6% of people experienced headaches after consuming 150 ml of cold water through a straw. This study also suggested that people with active migraine disease are twice as likely to experience headaches.
Can It Really Cause Cough?
Cold drinks do not have a negative impact on health, but in some cases, their consumption can indeed cause someone to cough more frequently. Why can this happen? It is because something cold, whether food or drink, causes bronchospasm, which is temporary narrowing of the airways, ultimately resulting in coughing. This condition occurs because cold air enters the lungs.
What about asthma sufferers? Cold water does not directly cause asthma attacks or asthma incidents. However, when the condition is exacerbating, drinking cold water can worsen symptoms. Nevertheless, this is only temporary until their bodies get used to the cold substance entering.
Cold Water vs. Warm Water
Drinking warm water is known to help with digestion, improve blood circulation, and help the body eliminate toxins more quickly. Warm water will be preferred when the weather is cold, while cold water will be chosen when the weather is hot. Although neither seems harmful, warm water consumption has been proven to reduce the feeling of thirst.
So why? It actually makes it risky. Warm water can make someone not feel thirsty as often as they should, especially in cold or cool weather. Yet their bodies need water to maintain hydration and replace lost fluids through sweat. Here are the recommendations for daily fluid intake:
- At least 2 liters or 8 glasses per day (Indonesian Ministry of Health)
- 3.7 liters for men and 2.7 liters for women (The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine)
So, drinking cold water, in general, is not bad for your health but can cause cough, only temporarily. It actually helps us maintain body hydration. Additionally, cold water is not recommended to be consumed when you have a cold or flu as it can worsen nasal congestion.
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