Hello, everyone! It's hard to give up the pleasure of blowing on a steaming hot pot or a spicy stew before savoring it, isn't it? But did you know that the habit of eating these hot foods quickly can be more detrimental to our esophageal health than you might think? Recently, a regrettable story from China about a large esophageal ulcer caused by hot hot pot gained attention. Today, through this news, we will delve into the relationship between hot food and esophageal health, and even the risk of esophageal cancer.

Ouch, That's Hot! The Story of an 8cm Esophageal Ulcer Caused by Hot Pot

This is a story about a woman in her 40s, Ms. Wang, who experienced this while eating hot pot with friends in China. She reportedly swallowed food directly from the pot without letting it cool sufficiently, distracted by hunger and conversation. Immediately afterward, she felt chest discomfort and drank ice water, but the next day, she suffered from excruciating pain, making it difficult even to swallow water. Hospital examinations revealed a shocking 8cm ulcer in her esophagus. This was a severe injury, equivalent to one-third the length of an adult esophagus.

Medical staff warned that while the esophagus can only withstand temperatures up to about 50-60°C, hot pot dishes can reach 80-90°C. They also cautioned that the habit of drinking cold water immediately after hot food can repeatedly irritate the esophagus and exacerbate mucosal damage, so extreme caution is advised.

More Than Just Discomfort? The Shocking Link Between Esophageal Cancer and Hot Food

The fact that hot food can cause not just discomfort but also cancer has been confirmed through various studies.

• In 2016, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) under the WHO already classified 'very hot beverages' exceeding 65°C as a probable human carcinogen (Group 2A). This classification was made because a correlation with esophageal cancer risk was observed in regions like Asia and the Middle East, where hot tea is frequently consumed.
• A 2022 study published in the 《British Journal of Cancer》 found that people who consume hot food or beverages rapidly within 2 minutes have a 1.8 times higher risk of esophageal cancer compared to those who wait 2-5 minutes for it to cool. The risk also significantly increased for individuals who frequently experience burns in their mouth.
• A follow-up study of 450,000 individuals in the UK Biobank also showed a higher risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in people who frequently drank hot tea or coffee. Notably, even consuming 'very hot' beverages less than four times a day showed a 2.5 times higher risk.

These studies clearly demonstrate that food temperature, waiting time before consumption, eating speed, and the frequency of oral burns are major factors that increase the risk of esophageal cancer.

Koreans' Love for Hot Soups: Is Our Esophageal Health at Risk?

Korea has a developed food culture where steaming hot stews (jjigae), soups (tang), rice soup (gukbap), and ramen are enjoyed piping hot. Many people also have the habit of eating hot food quickly due to the perception that "food tastes best when it's hot!"

However, experts warn that the habit of rapidly consuming hot and spicy soups can repeatedly irritate the esophageal lining, leading to chronic inflammation, and in the long term, increasing the risk of esophageal cancer. While delicious food is great, it's now crucial to adopt the habit of letting it cool down a bit and eating slowly for the sake of your esophageal health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Does hot food really increase the risk of esophageal cancer?

Yes, it does. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) under the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified very hot beverages exceeding 65°C as a 'probable human carcinogen (Group 2A)'. Numerous studies consistently confirm a tendency for the risk of esophageal cancer to increase with frequent consumption of hot food and beverages.

Q2. Why is hot food harmful to the esophagus?

Excessively hot food and beverages can cause repeated thermal damage to the esophageal lining. Analyses suggest that habits like eating too quickly or frequently burning one's mouth can exacerbate mucosal damage, leading to chronic inflammation, which in the long term can increase cancer risk.

Q3. What precautions should be taken for esophageal health?

Experts recommend allowing food and beverages to cool sufficiently before consuming them slowly, and avoiding the habit of eating rapidly when they are very hot. Furthermore, rapidly drinking ice water immediately after consuming hot food can cause a sudden temperature change in the esophagus, increasing irritation, so caution is advised.