Everyday explained: Why do we get brain freeze from ice cream?

Brain freeze, or sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia, happens when you eat something cold, like an ice cream. But why does it happen?

Ever wondered why ice creams can make your head hurt? This ice cream-related headache is known as brain freeze, and many get it when they are enjoying an ice lolly or a tub of ice cream. But have you ever stopped and wondered why you get it? Here's the answer for you.

Why do we get brain freeze from ice cream?

Brain freeze is an intense sensation of pain in the head that one gets when eating or drinking something cold, such as ice cream, ice cubes, ice popsicles, or frozen or slushy drinks. It’s not serious and goes away in a few seconds or minutes. A brain freeze is sometimes called an ice cream headache, and the scientific term is sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Children are likely to get a brain freeze because they may not have learned to slow down.

According to a report by Harvard Health, brain freeze occurs when the temperature of the roof of the mouth and the back of the throat drops drastically from a sudden intake of cold air. This sets off a chain reaction: blood vessels in the roof of the mouth rapidly narrow, which triggers brain arteries to dilate.

Though the exact mechanism is unclear, the report stated that it's likely that sudden artery wall expansion activates the trigeminal nerve, which relays sensory information from your face and head to your brain.

How to get rid of brain freeze?

A brain freeze typically disappears within 30 seconds. To ease it faster, you can also push your tongue or thumb to the roof of your mouth, which can help warm the area. You can also eat your ice cream a little slower or keep a warm drink on hand to sip if brain freeze strikes.

Who is at risk of getting brain freeze?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, anyone can get a brain freeze, and children may be more likely to get it because they may not have learned to slow down when eating something fun, like an ice cream. It is also more common in people who get migraine headaches.

How is brain freeze different from other headaches?

Unlike other headaches, which can lead to severe symptoms, a brain freeze comes and goes quickly. For example, a migraine can make you feel sick to your stomach (nausea), and some other headaches can make it hard to tolerate bright light or loud noise. A brain freeze does not cause any of these symptoms.

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.