One advantage of this summer's record-breaking heat is the opportunity to delight in ice cream and other cold delights. However, eating too much or too rapidly can be physically painful.
A cold-stimulus headache (scientific name: sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia, but commonly referred to as "brain freeze" or "ice cream headache") typically occurs after eating or drinking something extremely chilly. The acute, constant pain is centred on the forehead and typically lasts for a few seconds (though it may feel longer). Although annoying, the effect is not hazardous.
The origin of cold-stimulus migraines is still unknown. The common belief is that eating or drinking something cold causes blood vessels in the palate (the roof of the mouth) to constrict and then rapidly reopen as a survival reflex to maintain the body's core temperature. This reaction transmits a pain signal to the brain via the trigeminal nerve, a portion of which is located in the midface and temple.
Any cold food or drink can cause this type of pain, but ice cream is the most common cause because it is both cold and frequently consumed quickly.
However, you do not need to avoid ice cream (or other chilly foods and beverages) to prevent brain freeze. Instead, take smaller bites and consume slowly to allow the ice cream to melt in your mouth. When experiencing discomfort, press your tongue or your thumb against your palate.
Depositphotos
