If you’ve ever experienced a brain freeze, you know how incredibly painful it is. If you haven’t, then you’re in for a big surprise.
For some people, eating ice cream or drinking a very cold drink quickly causes a “brain freeze.” This happens as something very cold hits the upper roof of the mouth and feels like an excruciating pain traveling right into your brain. This gives the short-term sensation of your brain instantaneously freezing.
The Headache Connection
Actually, your brain doesn’t freeze up. According to sinus surgeon, Stacy Gray, from Massachusettes Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston, you are more likely having an ice cream headache. Possible explanations include:
- Blood vessels in the nasal cavity contract and their closeness to the forehead triggers a pain similar to a migraine.
- When tissue at the top of the mouth experiences a sudden change in temperature, nerves respond by dilating blood vessels as a means to bring warmth to the area. This rapid response causes the blood vessels to enlarge and trigger pain receptors which in turn release prostaglandins, which in turn increase pain sensitivity and inflammation.
- Pain signals in the forehead are picked up by the trigeminal nerve (a facial nerve) causing intense facial pain linked to headaches or migraines. (see video below for more details)
- Blood flow pressure increases within the brain. In a research study, when iced water was sipped from a straw reached the roof of the mouth, it caused an increase in blood flow. This effect expands the anterior cerebral artery, which in turn creates pressure to build up within the brain.
- It’s thought the increase change in blood flow pressure is responsible for the “brain freeze” headache-like sensation.
- Some researchers suggest that rapid blood flow change plays a role in headaches and migraines, and studying the brain freeze effect may lead to finding better treatment options.
How to treat a brain freeze
If you’re getting ready to indulge in your favorite summer ice cream treats or super cold beverages, beware the brain freeze. Best not to lick your ice cream too fast or slurp your drink too quickly.
If you do feel a brain freeze coming on, move your tongue to the roof of your mouth and hold it there until you feel it pass (at least 10 seconds) or drink something warm but make sure it reaches the roof of your mouth.
Sources:
New Clue to Brain Freeze – Changes in Brain’s Blood Flow May Explain Brain Freeze by Jennifer Warner,
WebMD Health News, Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/news/20120423/new-clue-brain-freeze
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice-cream_headache
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-09/q-can-%E2%80%9Cbrain-freeze%E2%80%9D-cause-long-term-brain-damage
http://chemistry.about.com/od/howthingsworkfaqs/f/how-brain-freeze-works.htm
Image: Pixabay 865126
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I am fortunate that I have not had a brain-freeze incident since I was a small kid. I don’t really enjoy freezing things (I let my ice cream melt, I drink water at room temp), but I will share these tips with my husband, who gets it often, lol. Thanks for the info! 🙂
Glad to share the tips, Liz. Hope your husband will never have one again.
I’ve had brain freeze plenty of times, none recently, though. Thanks for the tips on overcoming. I usually just scrunch up my eyes and hope is passes quickly!
No more eye scrunching for you Jackie. Moving your tongue to roof of your mouth and holding it there is a better option.
Definitely fun to read what causes brain freeze and yes, I experience it. Will try the tongue to the roof trick.
Hope you never have to experience another brain freeze, but if it happens you’ve got something to reduce the pain quickly.
Oh my brain freeze lol!!! I can not tell you how many times I have had it! Thanks for sharing Joyce about what happens to our brains when it happens, very interesting 🙂
It’s been surprising how many have responded with having brain freeze experiences. Hope this method helps should you have another one.
I wish I knew this when I was younger. I have had so many brain freezes. Haven’t had one in a while since I do try to eat most foods Luke warm foods. Have to share this. Tho
It apparently took the scientists a while to figure out the cause of brain freezes. Too late for most of us. But now we know. Don’t let it keep you from enjoying your cold favorites. Sip and lick slowly and you should be fine.
It’s been a long time, but I have definitely experienced brain freeze – that’s not something you easily forget! I never heard of the tip you shared, but will surely remember it. Thanks Joyce!
Your welcome Marquita. Don’t let it keep you from enjoying your favorite cold treat.
By coincidence, someone told me about the tongue fix yesterday! This is lots of good info that I appreciate because I am annoyingly sensitive. In that way, anyway.
Isn’t coincidence great! The Universe I guess wanted to make sure you got the message.
Never experienced this brain freeze but it’s interesting how our body reacts to extreme temperature… Thank you for sharing, Joyce, always share something that I would not find somewhere else!
Good news to hear that you’ve never experienced a brain freeze, Millen. Just in case, you or someone you’re with does have one, you’ll know what to do. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Being someone who loves cold everything, I have experienced brain freeze a time or two in my life. I actually worked for a gourmet ice cream company for many years and are all fruit sorbets were decadent and delicious. Because they need to be cold to be enjoyed, I had brain freeze moments from eating a pint at a time. Now I am more moderate with how and what I eat, so unless it is ice cold water with ice cubes in it, brain freeze is less prevalent. Thanks for explaining what it is that is happening with “brain freeze” Joyce, and some of the suggestions on how to transform it quickly. As we are all told, room temperature is the ideal way to eat and drink most things. That is definitely one way to avoid it.
That must have been an interesting job, working for a gourmet ice cream company! Agree, there comes a time to moderate – have less ice cold things, let it warm up to room temperature or take cautious slips and licks.
I’ve actually written down your tip for brain freeze relief in my notebook, Joyce. I used to have it a lot when I was much younger and honestly, one doesn’t know what its about until you actually experience it. Awful.
Most probably it was because I used to eat ice cream quickly. I did notice that brain freeze happened if I used the right side of my mouth so I guess the nerves on that side are more sensitive.
An interesting experience Vatsala to have sensitivity on your right side. I’m sure eating ice cream fast contributes to brain freeze. But, when we were kids where was the fun of letting ice cream melt and drip over everything.
That’s so interesting! Great to know how to get rid of it quickly… Thanks!
Great trick that comes in handy if it should happen to you or anyone your with. They’ll think you’re a magician to make their pain go away so quickly.
Brain freeze is the worst! I do exactly what you are describing. Although it is a long 10 seconds, it does work!
True Staci, 10 seconds can be a long time when you’re in pain. But, eventually getting relief is what it’s all about. Thanks for sharing your personal experience.
Yes I have experienced this and I also recall the same answer that you provided… it’s the roof of the mouth thing… but it doesn’t stop me from drinking margaritas, for sure!
What’s a little roof of the mouth pain to get between a gal and her margaritas? Enjoy!
I never really knew what was happening but I only drink without ice. I wait for my ice cream to warm up & I love it soft and mushy. I gave up on cones cause it got messy, but dishes or bowls hold more anyway.
Thanks for explaining a condition I didn’t know I had, but I was smart enough to solve.
Yes, Roz smart women do figure out how to have more ice cream served just the wat they like it.
It doesn’t happen to me often, but the pain is amazing when it does. I should keep the memory of the pain at the front of my mind to quash the temptation to guzzle more ice cream, the monster of temptation when I’m trying to be healthy. I wonder if drinking iced water through a straw and increasing the blood flow could help people at risk of clots or strokes?
Isn’t amazing how rich and creamy as ice cream is that it can cause such unexpected pain? Anytime we try to give the “good stuff” up totally, we tend to crave more of it. Think of ice cream as being good for the soul in small licks.
I’ve heard many stories about brain freezes, so it’s refreshing to finally learn the truth about them! However, I’m surprised that the sensation could result in inflammation, and that’s not good. Usually I try to let food gets closer to room temperature before consuming, but that isn’t always possible. I’ve been using the tongue trick to warm the roof of my mouth, and it often helps. Interesting read!
Good for you Meghan, to allow foods to get closer to room temperature. Already knowing how to use the tongue to warm the roof the mouth comes in handy when you’re with someone who suddenly gets a brain freeze.
Wow! I never knew there WAS an antidote to brain freeze! And yep, I’m prone to them. So good to know about the roof-of-the-mouth thing! I’m with Joan too–add more liquor 🙂
You and Joan need to party with Kristen. Her preference is margaritas.
Those really cold “ice-ey” kind of slushy kinds of drinks are the worst for me. I think one logical solution would be to add more liquor!
Oh Joan, you gave me such a laugh. Yes, more liquor would lessen the pain.