In the summer, many people enjoy drinking iced water because it's refreshing, quenches thirst, and helps beat the heat. However, some people experience stomach pain after drinking iced water. This is because the low temperature of the iced water is difficult for the stomach to accept in a short period, leading to stomach cramps and symptoms like abdominal pain. Especially for those with sensitive stomachs, iced water can irritate the digestive tract, making it easier to trigger acute gastroenteritis, which in turn causes stomach pain. So, what should you do if you get a stomachache from drinking iced water?
What to do if you get a stomachache from drinking iced water
1. Press your stomach with a towel
The stomach ache caused by drinking iced water usually doesn't last long and will gradually subside on its own after about ten minutes. However, if you want to relieve the pain sooner, you can press the painful area of your abdomen firmly with a thick towel or a piece of clothing. This can help alleviate the spasms in the stomach wall caused by the low temperature and reduce the pain.
2. Apply a hot water bottle to your stomach
The stomach is located in the abdominal area, and applying a hot water bottle externally can help warm it up. If you have a stomach ache from drinking iced water, you can apply a hot water bottle to your stomach for a few minutes. Then, drink some warm water to relieve the abdominal pain, warm your stomach, and you will feel better after a short rest.
3. Drink ginger and brown sugar water
Drinking too much iced water can lower the temperature of the stomach, potentially leading to a "deficiency-cold" condition in the spleen and stomach. This can impair digestion, causing symptoms like bloating and stomach pain. In such cases, it's best to eat some warming foods, and ginger and brown sugar water is an excellent choice. It can relieve abdominal pain and pain caused by cold, with the effect of warming the meridians and dispelling cold. Since a stomachache from iced water is often due to the digestive system being chilled, drinking ginger and brown sugar water can effectively alleviate these symptoms.
4. Get some light exercise
Exercise is the foundation of life. If you experience stomach discomfort from drinking iced water, doing some light-intensity exercise in a timely manner, such as walking around the house or using a hula hoop, can help stimulate the recovery of gastrointestinal function and reduce stomach pain.
Who should avoid drinking iced water
1. Pregnant women should avoid drinking iced water. During pregnancy, a woman's resistance is weakened, and drinking iced water can easily trigger "cold-related" conditions, which is not conducive to maintaining a stable pregnancy.
2. Infants under one year old should not drink iced water. The organs of infants under one are not fully developed, and drinking iced water can easily lead to gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhea, and other symptoms.
3. People who have just come from a hot environment should not drink iced water. Drinking iced water immediately after being in high temperatures can shock the body's systems, potentially triggering heatstroke symptoms.
4. People with poor gastrointestinal function should avoid drinking iced water. For those with a weak spleen and stomach or who have gastritis, the digestive tract cannot handle stimulation. Iced water is a cold beverage, and for people with poor gastrointestinal function, it can easily trigger gastritis, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and other symptoms.
When you should not drink iced water
1. It's not advisable to drink iced water on an empty stomach. Drinking iced water on an empty stomach can irritate the digestive tract and more easily cause stomach pain.
2. It's not advisable to drink iced water after strenuous exercise. After intense exercise, the body expends a lot of energy, generates a significant amount of heat, and body temperature rises. If you drink iced water afterward, the blood vessels in the gastrointestinal tract will constrict immediately, causing abdominal pain and disrupting bodily functions.
3. It's not advisable to drink iced water while singing. Drinking iced water while singing can irritate the mucous membranes of the throat. The blood vessels, which are already in a state of congestion, will constrict, reducing blood flow. This can allow hidden bacteria to enter the body, potentially leading to a sore throat, hoarseness, or triggering coughs and colds.
Tip
Iced water is very cold. When it enters the body, the digestive system cannot adapt to such a low temperature in a short time, leading to stomach cramps and symptoms like abdominal pain. In the summer, it is more beneficial to drink warm water. The temperature difference between warm water and the body is small, which helps the body absorb it more easily.