Comments on: Could a stainless steel thermos cause heartburn?

Question: Could a stainless steel thermos cause heartburn?

sugarfish — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:14:37 -0800

Could a stainless steel thermos cause heartburn? (Asking this for a friend.)

I just want to know if there's any possibility that drinking water out of a stainless steel thermos could be causing my heartburn?

The heartburn started when I started using the thermos and I can't find any other reasons for it. I only drink ice water from it.

Thanks!

By: Static Vagabond

Static Vagabond — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:23:31 -0800

By: pseudostrabismus

pseudostrabismus — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:35:50 -0800

I can't imagine why- this is by no means an informed opinion, but I'm pretty sure a lot of the stuff you usually drink goes through stainless steel- vats, pipes, tanks- at some point before it reaches you. Is the thermos clean? Could it have bacterial buildup or something?

By: nanojath

nanojath — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:37:43 -0800

Stainless steel is considered a particularly neutral metal for cooking, and ice water is not something that would promote leaching anyway, so it does seem unlikely that the thermos would be a factor. Everybody who gets heartburn has it start somewhere - maybe it's just a coincidence. Heartburn has a definite stress component for me - did the thermos show up at the same time as any other change in life? Finally, if cutting out the thermos stops the heartburn (the obvious experiment), you know, screw science, get a plastic thermos.

By: hal_c_on

hal_c_on — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:02:47 -0800

Is it from China? Where do your lips touch? It may have NOTHING to do with the thermos. Actually...here's your answer!

By: nakedcodemonkey

nakedcodemonkey — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 21:51:42 -0800

Is heartburn the only symptom? pseudostrabismus's question about cleanliness brings to mind a theory. Heartburn can be associated with peptic ulcer. Most peptic ulcers are caused by H. pylori bacteria. Thermoses can be tricky to clean.

By: SlyBevel

SlyBevel — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 22:01:51 -0800

See your doctor. The sudden onset of lots of heartburn can signal reflux or a hiatal hernia. They can both be quite serious without you (or your friend) even knowing it.

By: sugarfish

sugarfish — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:19:13 -0800

Thanks, everyone. I hope this helps my friend.