The reaction can be triggered within a few seconds after a very cold substance consumed comes into contact with the roof of the mouth. This irritates nerves in the region (sphenopalatine ganglia), causing them to spasm. These nerves cause the blood vessels in the brain to dilate. When vessels in the brain dilate, a common effect is an acute headache (a similar effect occurs when one takes a prescription vasodilator, such as Nitroglycerin or Viagra). It is a stabbing or aching type of pain that usually recedes after 10-20 seconds after its onset, but sometimes 30-60 seconds, and can persist for up to 5 minutes in rare cases. The pain is usually located in the midfrontal area, but can be unilateral in the temporal, frontal, or retro-orbital region.
It has been reported that the pain can be relieved by moving the tongue to the roof of the mouth, which will cause greater warmth in the region; it is also believed that the pain can be relieved by slowly sipping room temperature water. Laying the head to the side may also provide relief. The pain may be avoided in the first place simply by eating the cold food or beverage more slowly.
A report was submitted to the British Medical Journal on brain freeze; it focused on the effect of speed of consumption of ice cream on causing brain freeze. Comonly referred to as "Ice cream headaches," it has been studied as an example of referred pain. [1]
It has been estimated that 30% of the population experiences brain freeze.[2] Some studies suggest that brainfreeze is more common in people who experience migraines. Raskin and Knittle found this to be the case, with brainfreeze occurring in 93% of migraine sufferers and in only 31% of controls. However, other studies found that it's more common in people without migraines. These inconsistencies may be due to differences in subject selection–the subjects of the first study were drawn from a hospital population, whereas the controls in the second were student volunteers.
2006-07-22 10:01:03
·
answer #1
·
answered by vascsono 2
·
2⤊
2⤋
I grew up in a family business and I ate ice cream for years and the best thing to do is drink regular water (not cooled) while you eat it .
2006-07-22 10:02:07
·
answer #2
·
answered by robinhoodcb 4
·
0⤊
0⤋
nerves near the roof of the mouth get too cold
cure:
press your tongue against the roof of your mouth
or press your thumb there (yes it looks like you are sucking it)
or hold warm liquid in your mouth.
you just need to warm it up
these will give you instant relief
2006-07-22 10:04:18
·
answer #3
·
answered by brainiac 4
·
0⤊
0⤋
Brain freeze, ice cream headache, freezie, or Frozen Brain Syndrome are terms used to describe a form of cranial pain or headache which people are known to sometimes experience after consuming cold beverages or foods such as ice cream, often as a result of rapid consumption.
Contents [hide]
1 Mechanism/cause
2 Brain freeze in pop culture
3 References
4 External links
[edit]
Mechanism/cause
The reaction can be triggered within a few seconds after a very cold substance consumed comes into contact with the roof of the mouth. This irritates nerves in the region (sphenopalatine ganglia), causing them to spasm. These nerves cause the blood vessels in the brain to dilate. When vessels in the brain dilate, a common effect is an acute headache (a similar effect occurs when one takes a prescription vasodilator, such as Nitroglycerin or Viagra). It is a stabbing or aching type of pain that usually recedes after 10-20 seconds after its onset, but sometimes 30-60 seconds, and can persist for up to 5 minutes in rare cases. The pain is usually located in the midfrontal area, but can be unilateral in the temporal, frontal, or retro-orbital region.
It has been reported that the pain can be relieved by moving the tongue to the roof of the mouth, which will cause greater warmth in the region; it is also believed that the pain can be relieved by slowly sipping room temperature water. Laying the head to the side may also provide relief. The pain may be avoided in the first place simply by eating the cold food or beverage more slowly.
A report was submitted to the British Medical Journal on brain freeze; it focused on the effect of speed of consumption of ice cream on causing brain freeze. Comonly referred to as "Ice cream headaches," it has been studied as an example of referred pain. [1]
It has been estimated that 30% of the population experiences brain freeze.[2] Some studies suggest that brainfreeze is more common in people who experience migraines. Raskin and Knittle found this to be the case, with brainfreeze occurring in 93% of migraine sufferers and in only 31% of controls. However, other studies found that it's more common in people without migraines. These inconsistencies may be due to differences in subject selection–the subjects of the first study were drawn from a hospital population, whereas the controls in the second were student volunteers.
[edit]
Brain freeze in pop culture
In the 1992 movie Encino Man, Link (Brendan Fraser) gets a brain freeze after "weasing the juice" (sticking his head under the tap of a slushie machine) at a convenience store.
In the 2003 movie Dumb and Dumberer, Harry and Lloyd order a slushie and both get brainfrozen.
In the 2005 movie Fun with Dick and Jane, Jim Carrey's character experiences a brain freeze when drinking the beverage with the same name.
In an episode of the American comedy series Scrubs, the character Chris Turk experiences a brain freeze when drinking a slushee.
On the Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert gets a brain freeze eating his Dreamcicle.
On the cartoon series Megas XLR, the character Kiva suffers a brain freeze from sampling an ice-cold slushie drink, much to the amusement of Coop and Jamie.
In an opening sequence for Malcolm in the Middle, Malcolm and Dewey encourage Reese to eat ice cream faster, at which point Malcolm turns to the camera and says "Reese doesn't ever get brain freeze, it's hardly scientific but it's gotta prove something".
In an episode of Step by Step, Cody meets one of his old-time friends, and the two have fun eating ice cream and getting brain freezes together.
The convenience store 7-11 has used the term in advertising their Slurpee products, and has thus obtained a registered trademark on the term.
Turntablist recording artists Cut Chemist and DJ Shadow released a somewhat-bootleg album entitled Brainfreeze featuring a very loose 7-11 theme. The album artwork has the two posing in 7-11 smocks.
In The Adventures of Pete & Pete episode "Field of Pete," a crazed baseball team manager's evil is said to be powered by the brain freezing effects of the Orange Lazarus slushie drink, which he constantly consumes. Later in the episode, the drink's powers are used for good when an extra frozen batch of Lazarus causes Big Pete's entire team — which was cheating, thanks to the manager enlisting the aid of Little Pete's scathing trash-talk — to experience a nearly unending brainfreeze, evening the odds in the game.
"Brain Freeze" is the name of a song by Frank Klepacki featured in the game soundtrack of Red Alert 2.
In the Earthworm Jim animated television series' episode "Conqueror Worm," Jim experiences brain freeze after quickly drinking a frozen yogurt.
In the video game Animal Crossing: Wild World,, a character with the "jock" personality, will ask "Hey, do you like cold drink brain freeze?". A "yes" response will make the character assert his belief that it makes you more intelligent.
[edit]
References
^ http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/314/7091/1364
^ http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2003/brown/brain.htm
[edit]
External links
"Ice cream evoked headaches (ICE-H) study: randomised trial of accelerated versus cautious ice cream eating regimen"
hope this helps
2006-07-22 10:04:29
·
answer #4
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋