Brain freeze, also known as ice cream headache, occurs for a few seconds when we eat or drink something cold, such as ice cream or slushies. Here are a few reasons why we experience brain freeze. Tap to know!
Sudden Cooling Of Mouth
When we eat or drink something cold, the roof of our mouth instantly gets cold, alerting the nerves that something is wrong, triggering pain and leading to brain freeze.
Sensitive Pain Receptors
Some individuals have sensitive pain receptors, especially in the mouth and face. When in contact with cold things, they react strongly and lead to brain freeze.
Dehydration
Dehydration can cause the blood vessels to react strongly by constricting and dilating quickly, making the brain freeze more painful.
Trigeminal Nerve Reaction
Trigeminal nerve is a facial nerve that carries sensations from the mouth to the brain. It can sometimes misinterpret the cold as pain, leading to brain freeze or headaches.
Sinus Sensitivity
Individuals who suffer from nasal congestion or inflammation can experience prolonged brain freeze as the sinus nerves are connected to the nerves involved in brain freeze.
Increased Blood Flow
The sudden dilation of blood vessels when we eat something cold causes a temporary increase in blood flow to the brain, leading to a sharp pain known as brain freeze.
Information Credits
According to Harvard Health Publishing, brain freeze can be caused due to sudden cooling of the mouth, trigeminal nerve reaction, and more. It is advisable to consult a healthcare professional if the headache or brain freeze is not going away.