Drinking tea, coffee or other beverages while they are extremely hot may increase the risk of developing oesophageal cancer, according to a study by researchers from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. The study, published in the International Journal of Cancer, involved 977,282 people and is described as one of the largest studies to examine the relationship between beverage temperature and oesophageal cancer. Researchers found that people who consumed beverages at temperatures of 65°C or higher had nearly three times the risk of developing oesophageal cancer compared with those who drank their beverages at lower temperatures. According to the researchers, intense heat may damage the cells lining the oesophagus as the hot liquid passes towards the stomach. “Drinking six or more cups of hot beverages a day may increase the risk. Adding milk may lower the temperature slightly, but tea or coffee with milk can still be excessively hot,” the study noted. Tea prepared immediately after boiling water can reach temperatures of around 100°C. Once poured into a cup, the temperature may fall to approximately 90–95°C. Experts therefore advise people to wait a few minutes before drinking hot beverages to allow them to cool to a safer and more comfortable temperature. Health expert Dr Keren Papier said previous studies in South America, where people commonly consume herbal drinks at very high temperatures, had also found an association with oesophageal cancer. However, researchers emphasised that the overall risk of developing oesophageal cancer remains relatively low, even among people who consume very hot beverages. The most important ways to reduce the risk include avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol consumption. Symptoms of oesophageal cancer may include heartburn, throat or chest pain, difficulty swallowing and unexplained weight loss.