why does eating cold things too fast hurt my head?

Question

I heard somewhere that it doesn't actually hurt your head that it hurts your mouth but the pain is registered somewhere else, true? if so please elaborate!!

Answer 1

Brainfreeze

The reaction can be sometimes triggered within a few seconds after a very cold substance consumed comes into contact with the roof of the mouth. This activates nerves in the region (sphenopalatine ganglia), causing 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 five 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[1], 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. 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. Commonly referred to as "ice cream headaches," it has been studied as an example of referred pain,[2] an unpleasant sensation localised to an area separate from the site of the painful stimulation

Answer 2

The reaction can be triggered after a cold substance comes into contact with the roof of the mouth. This activates nerves in the region (sphenopalatine ganglia), causing the blood vessels in the brain to dilate. When vessels in the brain dilate, a common effect is an acute headache.

Answer 3

I scream, you scream, we all scream for . . . ow!
When something very cold touches the center of the palate, the cold temperature can set off certain nerves that control how much blood flows to your head. The nerves respond by causing the blood vessels in the head to swell up. This quick swelling of the blood vessels is what causes your head to pound and hurt. Some people call this a "brain freeze," even though nothing is really happening in the brain - it's all in the blood vessels of the head.

Answer 4

its a lie it does hurt your head. it can actually do some damage. the cold freezes your throat and the cold goes right to your brain... there is no popular research on the subject, but i think it could obviously cause brain damage... or at least nerve damage same thing....
if could, if you keep doing it, but one time is not good.

my advice is to eat and drink the cold things slower... it tastes better that way.. give it a taste and your tongue will absorb the cold.

your mouth is right next to your brain... thats why they call it brainfreeze... there is no telling what it can do....
the part of your brain right behind your thraot controlls the heartbeat and breathing and other functions, so i wouldnt want anything to bother that area

Answer 5

The cold causes a contraction of the arteries, and that changes the blood flow characteristics (pressure might change, flow can reduce, and the blood gets cold). You have large blood vessels going to the head in general (and the brain in particular) in close proximity to your mouth (in your neck)

Answer 6

It basically comes from the nerve endings in the roof of your mouth. So when the roof of your mouth gets cold, like when you eat ice cream too fast, it feels like you have a head ache. It's just your nerves playing tricks on you. =)

Answer 7

1

Answer 8

There is a nerve on the roof of your mouth in the back that causes it. The cold hits that nerve and it causes "brain freeze".

Answer 9

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RE:
why does eating cold things too fast hurt my head?
I heard somewhere that it doesn't actually hurt your head that it hurts your mouth but the pain is registered somewhere else, true? if so please elaborate!!

Answer 10

blood vessles constrict to conserve heat
when you have to much cold in your mouth at once,
the nerves say hey go into heat conservation
and constrict the blood vessles,

the nerves at the top of the mouth are linked with blood vessles in your head,

when blood vessles constrict, your blood pressure is gonna rise in that area
( less volume=more pressure)

the pressure in that area is now causing you pain