ELI5: brain freeze
// explanation
What is brain freeze?
Brain freeze is a sudden, sharp pain in your head that happens when you eat or drink something really cold too fast, like ice cream or a frozen drink [1][2]. It's not dangerous at all—it just feels really uncomfortable for a few seconds [2].
Why does it happen?
When something cold touches the roof of your mouth, it makes the blood vessels there shrink really quickly [5]. Your brain gets confused by this sudden change and sends a pain signal, kind of like when you stub your toe [1][5].
What does it feel like?
It feels like a sudden, intense stabbing or throbbing pain right in the front or middle of your head that comes out of nowhere [1][2]. The good news is it only lasts a few seconds before going away [2].
How do you fix it?
If you get brain freeze, stop eating the cold food right away and press your tongue or thumb against the roof of your mouth to warm it up [4]. You can also just wait a few seconds—it goes away on its own [2].
// sources
A cold-stimulus headache, colloquially known as an ice-cream headache or brain freeze, is a form of brief pain or headache, commonly associated with ...
Feb 15, 2021 ... Brain freeze, or ice cream headache, is an intense pain in the head caused by eating or drinking something cold. It's not serious and goes away in a few ...
Brain Freeze is Kansas City's premier mobile daiquiri bar, now serving Lawrence and Topeka! We bring the bold flavors and island vibes of the Carribean ...
If you get nailed by brain freeze, act fast. If possible, remove the cold food or drink from your mouth, and press your tongue or your thumb against the roof ...
May 22, 2013 ... Brain freeze is practically a rite of summer. It happens when you eat ice cream or gulp something ice cold too quickly. The scientific term ...
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