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Brain freeze is the pain sometimes inflicted by devouring something cold like ice cream or a cold beverage, often very quickly.

The reaction is (obviously) triggered by the cold ice cream or beverage; coming into contact with the roof of the mouth. It triggers nerves that give the brain the impression of a very cold environment. To heat up the brain again, blood vessels start to swell, which causes the headache-like pain for approximately 30 seconds.

The temperature change in the roof of the mouth has to be rather drastic; this is why brain freeze often occurs on warm days.

The pain can be relieved by putting the tongue to the roof of the mouth, which logically will heat it up.

2006-08-06 16:24:01 · answer #1 · answered by froggy 3 · 0 1

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.

2006-08-07 00:18:11 · answer #2 · answered by CIA Biatch 3 · 0 0

It's caused by a nerve across the roof of your mouth. Not everyone gets brain freeze.

2006-08-06 23:13:33 · answer #3 · answered by tsopolly 6 · 0 0

It's just the soft palate, or roof of your mouth that gets really cold. Try sucking on the roof of your mouth when you get brain freeze and it almost instantly goes away.

2006-08-06 23:15:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

brain freeze it just always happens

2006-08-06 23:30:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

I have no clue

2006-08-06 23:34:40 · answer #6 · answered by sicilianaforlife 1 · 0 1

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