Brain freeze, also known as ice cream headache or its medical term, sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia, is a common, temporary sensation. It feels like a sharp, sudden pain in the head, often in the forehead or temples. This experience is typically linked to consuming cold food or drinks quickly, such as ice cream or slushy beverages.
Are Brain Freezes Dangerous?
Brain freezes are harmless and do not cause lasting damage. The pain, while intense and sometimes described as throbbing or stabbing, is a normal physiological response to cold stimuli. It usually dissipates quickly, within seconds to a few minutes, without the need for medication or medical intervention.
The sensation is your body’s way of reacting to a rapid temperature change. While brain freezes are not linked to neurological conditions, some research indicates that people who experience migraines might be more susceptible to them. However, a brain freeze is distinct from other headaches, as it does not present with other symptoms like nausea or sensitivity to light. If a headache persists, is unusual, or occurs without cold exposure, it is advisable to seek medical attention.
What Causes a Brain Freeze?
A brain freeze occurs when something extremely cold touches the roof of your mouth, also known as the palate, or the back of your throat. This rapid cooling causes blood vessels in the area to constrict, or narrow. To counteract the cold and warm the area, these blood vessels then quickly dilate, or widen, leading to a sudden increase in blood flow.
This sudden change in blood vessel size, particularly the rapid expansion of the anterior cerebral artery, triggers pain receptors. These signals are sent through the trigeminal nerve, a major nerve responsible for sensation in the face and head. The brain interprets these signals as pain in the head, even though the cold stimulus originated in the mouth.
How to Prevent and Stop a Brain Freeze
To prevent a brain freeze, consuming cold foods and drinks slowly is effective. Allowing cold items to warm slightly in your mouth before swallowing also helps. Avoiding direct contact of cold substances with the roof of your mouth can also help.
If a brain freeze occurs, stop consuming the cold item immediately. Pressing your tongue or thumb firmly against the roof of your mouth can help transfer warmth to the affected area, speeding up recovery. Sipping a warm or room-temperature liquid also helps normalize the temperature inside your mouth.