Health. Why can a simple ice cream “freeze” your brain?
You've just bitten into an ice cream or downed an iced drink a little too quickly, when suddenly, an intense pain pierces your forehead, as if your brain is literally freezing. Rest assured: this "brain freeze" is a perfectly normal and harmless phenomenon.
Brain freeze can affect anyone, at any age. Of course, children are particularly susceptible to it because they tend to devour their ice cream without moderation.
This intense but brief pain usually strikes the forehead and lasts only a few seconds, before disappearing as suddenly as it appeared.
A defense mechanism that turns against usBut where does this particular pain come from? When something very cold comes into contact with our mouth or throat—whether it's ice cream or a very cold drink—our body immediately triggers a defense mechanism.
The blood vessels in the head dilate to let more blood in and warm the area. This sudden change in vessel size then causes sudden pain.
Simple and effective solutionsFortunately, there are several techniques that can quickly resolve brain freeze. The goal is simple: return the temperature of your mouth and throat to normal. As soon as the pain occurs, immediately stop consuming the cold food or drink.
Then drink something warm or at room temperature.
Note : People prone to migraines appear to be more likely to experience brain freeze. Although these two types of headaches are very different, they may share some neurological mechanisms.
Source : Cleveland Clinic
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