Eating hot food during the cold season can damage the esophagus

The esophagus is the connection between the mouth and stomach, has the function of transporting food, and is protected by a layer of squamous epithelial mucosa within the esophagus. Chewing reduces heat in food, reducing direct heat contact with the esophageal mucosa.

Master and Doctor Dao Tran Tien, Deputy Head of the Department of Gastroenterology, Tam Anh General Hospital, Hanoi, said that in winter when the temperature drops, people tend to choose hot, warm dishes to enjoy such as noodles, hot pot, stewed dishes, soups, baked goods, tea, coffee, hot milk… The temperature of stewed, fried, hot pot or microwaved foods is often not shown on the outside but is hidden inside. deeper layers.

Food temperatures that are too hot (over 60 degrees Celsius) can cause damage to the mouth, pharynx, larynx and esophagus. Heat injury caused by hot food is called acute esophageal thermal injury (ETI). Initially, the esophageal mucosa is irritated and swollen due to high temperature.

Prolonged esophageal damage can become chronic inflammatory damage, leading to the formation of scars in the esophagus and larynx. Scar bands form at any location where thermal injury penetrates, commonly such as the protective mucosa lining the inside of the mouth, larynx, and esophagus, causing narrowing of the esophagus and related structures, causing increased risk of esophageal cancer. The risk is higher in people with previous esophageal disease.

Heat damage caused by food can cause complications such as contraction of the esophageal mucosa, narrowing of the esophagus, causing patients to often have difficulty swallowing, pain when swallowing, and a burning sensation behind the sternum. On endoscopic images, esophageal lesions vary depending on severity and stage. Mild levels show signs of mucosal swelling, redness, and blisters. More severe are aphthous ulcer lesions, the common manifestation of which can be seen alternating white and red mucosal strips along the esophagus.

The doctor makes a diagnosis based on the patient’s clinical manifestations, detailed medical history, disease progression and endoscopic image characteristics. Heat injury to the esophagus is relatively benign and reversible. Treatment possibilities and recovery time depend on the depth and spread of heat damage and surrounding organs involved.

People with mild heat injury to the esophagus can heal on their own in about a week. Severe cases can be cured if detected early and treated aggressively, such as limiting foods and hot drinks that cause damage, and using drugs that inhibit gastric secretion to protect the esophageal mucosa from damage caused by fluid. taste, stomach acid.

Doctor Tien recommends that each person can protect the esophagus by eating and drinking warm foods with a safe temperature for the esophagus of about 30 degrees Celsius. Patients have symptoms such as voice changes, difficulty breathing, and difficulty swallowing. , sore throat with difficulty swallowing for more than 48 hours without improvement, need to be examined early to check, evaluate the condition and treat promptly.