Ice Cream Lovers Beware! Why Brain Freeze Happens and How to Prevent It

If you’ve ever enjoyed a scoop of ice cream or a sip of a slushy on a hot day, you may have experienced a sharp, sudden headache that left you wondering, “What just happened?” This phenomenon is popularly known as brain freeze or an ice cream headache.

Dr. Arvind Bhateja, Lead Consultant Neurosurgeon and Spine Surgeon at Sparsh Hospital, Bengaluru, uses his expertise to debunk myths around neurosurgery, neurological health, and brain-related issues. Known as "Doc AB" on social media, Dr. Bhateja is on a mission to inform the public by making complex medical concepts accessible and accurate.

Brain freeze, also known as an ice cream headache, is a sudden, intense pain in the head that occurs when you consume something cold too quickly. This type of headache is formally called a cold stimulus headache or sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia—yes, that’s a mouthful! Despite its alarming sensation, brain freeze is harmless and goes away quickly.

The science of Brain freeze happens when a cold substance hits the roof of your mouth, or hard palate. This abrupt chill triggers a response in the sphenopalatine ganglion and the trigeminal nerve, which can lead to a quick, sharp headache. This phenomenon is common, especially among ice cream enthusiasts and those who indulge in frosty drinks!

Why Does Happen So Suddenly?

When you eat or drink something icy, it cools the roof of your mouth. The blood vessels in the area constrict, then quickly dilate, which stimulates the pain receptors and signals your brain that something unusual is happening. This rapid temperature change triggers what we call brain freeze.

The Role of the Sphenopalatine Ganglion

The sphenopalatine ganglion is a group of nerve cells located behind your nose, responsible for transmitting sensations, including the pain of brain freeze. When cold hits your palate, it stimulates this ganglion, which then sends pain signals to the brain, resulting in the sudden headache.

What Happens in brain

It is essentially your body’s way of adjusting to a rapid temperature drop. The body responds by adjusting blood flow to maintain a stable brain temperature. The nerves around your mouth and forehead are closely linked, which is why you feel the sensation so intensely.

Are There Different Types

While brain freeze is technically classified as a cold stimulus headache, there are various types of headaches caused by cold stimuli. For instance, cold weather or swimming in icy water can trigger similar types of brief headaches.

How to Stop Brain Freeze Fast

If you find yourself dealing with brain freeze, try these quick remedies:

1. Breathe into your hands: Cup your hands over your mouth and nose, creating warm, humid air that can help counteract the cold.

2. Drink warm water: A sip of lukewarm water can stabilize the temperature in your mouth.

3. Press your tongue against the roof of your mouth: Applying pressure can rewarm the palate and help ease the pain.

Brain Freeze Myths Debunked

There are a few myths floating around about brain freeze:

Myth: It is dangerous. 

Truth: It is completely harmless.

Myth: It can damage your brain.   

Truth: No damage occurs, it’s just a short-term response.

Preventing in the Future

To avoid brain freeze, take your time when enjoying cold foods or drinks. Slow down your eating or drinking pace, and be mindful not to let cold items directly touch the roof of your mouth.

Who is More Likely to Experience

Brain freeze can happen to anyone, but some people, especially kids, may experience it more frequently. Research suggests genetic factors may influence susceptibility to cold-induced headaches.

References

1. American Migraine Foundation. "Migraine 101." Accessed December 11, 2024. https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/.

2. Cleveland Clinic. "Brain Freeze (Ice Cream Headache): What It Is and How to Stop It." Accessed December 11, 2024. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/17761-brain-freeze.

3. Thompson Health. "Homepage." Accessed December 11, 2024. https://www.thompsonhealth.com/.

By Aniket Gupta

_MSM