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BlueNet SPECIALITIES
Neurosurgery

The terrible Ice Cream Headache!

Fast facts, causes, and what can you do about it

The terrible Ice Cream Headache!

Brain freeze occurs when gulping down that frosty treat too quickly, and the extremely cold touches the roof of your mouth.

 

Fast facts on ice cream headaches

  • The ice-cream Headache medical term is Sphenopalatine Ganglion Neuralgia
  • Scientists aren’t sure why it happens, but they think it might be produced by an abrupt change in the blood flow to your brain
  • The most common cure is warming the roof of the mouth to prevent this fast constriction and reduce the headache
  • If you tend to get migraines, it might be worse!
  • Our body does this, probably as part of a self-defense mechanism

Causes

Any cold provocation can cause Nerve Pain that results in a brain freeze.

  • Freeze of the capillaries of the sinuses by an extreme cold stimulus causes the nerves to react.
  • A drastic change in body temperature.

What can you do about it?

Prevention:

  • Try to warm the frosty treat in your mouth before swallow.
  • Take a minute and have a swig of warm water.
  • Press your tongue to the roof of your mouth.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with your hands and breath quickly to increase the flow of warm air to the palate.
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