Nurse Esther Gómez said viewers on the Spanish program "Zapeando" that the widely believed phenomenon known as a "digestion cut" does not exist [1, 2].

This clarification addresses a recurring summer myth that often leads parents and grandparents to restrict swimming or activity after meals. By correcting this misconception, health professionals aim to reduce unnecessary anxiety and provide accurate medical guidance during high-temperature months [1, 2].

Gómez appeared on the La Sexta program on July 9 to address the misconceptions that resurface every summer [1]. The "corte de digestión" is a common term used in Spain to describe a sudden medical emergency occurring after eating and entering water, but Gómez said the condition lacks medical foundation [1, 2].

"El corte de digestión no existe," Gómez said [1].

According to the broadcast, the term is often used as a catch-all for other heat-related issues or sudden temperature shocks. The nurse's goal was to clarify the reality for families who continue to pass down the warning to younger generations [1, 2].

While the public often attributes sudden fainting or illness in the water to the digestive process, medical professionals suggest these incidents are typically caused by other physiological responses to heat or cold. Gómez said the belief is a myth without a basis in science [1, 2].

“"El corte de digestión no existe."”

The debunking of the 'digestion cut' myth highlights a gap between traditional folk wisdom and clinical science. In many Mediterranean cultures, this belief persists as a cautionary tale for children, but when medical professionals publicly dismantle such myths, it shifts the focus toward actual risks, such as heatstroke or thermal shock, which are the genuine causes of summer water-related emergencies.