Why Does Ice Cream Suddenly Make Your Head Hurt?
That sharp headache you sometimes get after eating ice cream too quickly has a real scientific name: sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia. Most of us simply know it as “brain freeze” or an “ice cream headache.
Brain freeze can happen after quickly consuming very cold foods or drinks, including ice cream, ice pops, ice cubes and slushy beverages. The good news is that it is generally harmless and disappears within seconds or a few minutes.
WHAT ACTUALLY CAUSES BRAIN FREEZE?
The reaction begins when something extremely cold suddenly lowers the temperature at the roof of your mouth and the back of your throat.
According to the explanation cited by Hindustan Times from Harvard Health, blood vessels in the roof of the mouth rapidly narrow in response to the cold. This is followed by dilation of arteries associated with the brain.
Scientists do not yet completely understand every part of the mechanism, but the sudden expansion of artery walls is thought to activate the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensory information from the face and head to the brain.
WHY DOES THE PAIN FEEL LIKE IT’S IN YOUR HEAD?
Even though the cold stimulus starts inside your mouth, your nervous system can interpret the signals as pain coming from your head.
That is why an innocent spoonful of ice cream can suddenly feel like an intense headache.
HOW LONG DOES BRAIN FREEZE LAST?
Thankfully, not very long.
Brain freeze usually disappears quickly and typically lasts around 30 seconds, according to the report.
HOW CAN YOU STOP IT FASTER?
One simple trick is to press your tongue or thumb against the roof of your mouth. The idea is to warm the chilled area more quickly.
Eating frozen foods more slowly can also reduce the chances of triggering another episode, while sipping something warm may help if brain freeze strikes.
WHO GETS BRAIN FREEZE MORE OFTEN?
Anyone can experience it, but children may be particularly prone because they are more likely to eat cold treats quickly.
Brain freeze is also reported to be more common among people who experience migraines.
BRAIN FREEZE VS A REGULAR HEADACHE
Unlike migraines and some other headaches, brain freeze disappears rapidly and generally does not bring symptoms such as nausea or sensitivity to bright light and loud sounds.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Brain freeze may feel dramatic, but in most cases it is simply your nervous system reacting to an extremely rapid temperature change.
So the next time ice cream gives you that sudden forehead pain, you probably do not need to panic. Slow down, warm the roof of your mouth and give your body a few seconds to recover.
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