On hot summer days, the enjoyment of ice-cold drinks and ice cream is clouded by one thing in particular: chills in the brain. Here you can find out how cold headaches occur and how you can prevent them.
Nothing beats a fruity ice cream or a refreshing drink when it’s hot. But what was intended to cool you down can quickly become uncomfortable when the so-called brain freeze sets in. This is a cold-triggered headache that manifests itself as a sudden, intense stabbing pain behind the forehead. The head often actually feels as if the brain is briefly freezing – hence the name brain freeze, or cold headache.
Although brain freeze is not dangerous, it can be very painful and spoil the enjoyment of cold food. But there are tricks you can use to avoid cold headaches.
Brain freeze is a natural protective reaction
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Brain freeze is the body’s normal reaction when you eat ice cream or drink an ice-cold drink too quickly. If stimulants that are too cold pass the palate and the back wall of the throat, they suddenly trigger a strong cold stimulus there. In response, the body wants to warm up.
So the blood vessels in the mouth automatically contract to reduce the loss of cold. But this further alarms the body. Narrowed blood vessels mean less oxygen in the blood, which the brain needs to function properly. Suddenly, the vessels widen again so that the body can pump more blood into the brain. This increases the pressure in the blood vessels, causing a sudden headache.
However, as soon as the body temperature normalizes (usually after 20 to 60 seconds), the blood supply is regulated again and the brain freeze is a thing of the past. The excessive pressure in the blood vessels cannot do any damage in such a short time.
This is how you avoid brain freeze
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / asdfonline0)
Brain freeze usually disappears as quickly as it came. Nevertheless, the ice cream enjoyment would be even greater without a painful stinging in the head.
With these tips you can avoid brain freeze:
- Avoid using lots of ice cubes in your drinks and drink in small sips.
- It is best to eat ice cream with a spoon, because this way you can prevent too much cold from hitting your palate at once. To do this, rotate the spoon as you insert it into your mouth so that it acts as a barrier between the ice and your palate.
- Take your time when eating ice cream: only swallow ice cream when it has warmed up a little in the front of your mouth and has melted slightly. Smaller portions are also advisable to reduce the cold stimulus.
If you do get a brain freeze, you should lift your tongue to the roof of your mouth to warm it up. Alternatively, you can also have a warm drink.
Read more on Techzle.com:
- Fight headaches naturally: these home remedies will help
- Make water ice yourself: fruity recipes for the summer
- Drinking when it’s hot: cold or warm drinks?