Brain freeze, also known as an ice cream headache, is a brief but intense headache that can occur after eating or drinking something very cold. The medical term for the condition is sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia. Although the pain can feel surprisingly strong, brain freeze is generally harmless and usually disappears within seconds or a few minutes.

The condition is linked to the sudden cooling of the roof of the mouth and the back of the throat when a person consumes something extremely cold. According to Harvard Health, this rapid temperature change causes blood vessels in the area to constrict and then triggers dilation of arteries. The precise mechanism is not completely understood, but researchers believe the change can activate the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensory information from the face and head to the brain.

Brain freeze can happen after eating ice cream, ice pops, ice cubes or frozen and slushy drinks. The pain may be felt around the forehead, temples or behind the eyes, even though the cold stimulus is inside the mouth. The sensation develops quickly because of the body's response to the sudden temperature change and generally resolves on its own once the affected area returns to its normal temperature.

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There are simple ways to ease the discomfort when brain freeze occurs. Pressing the tongue or thumb against the roof of the mouth can help warm the area, while sipping a warm drink may also provide relief. Eating or drinking cold foods more slowly can reduce the likelihood of triggering the reaction because it prevents the mouth and throat from being exposed to an abrupt temperature change.

Anyone can experience brain freeze, although children may be particularly prone to it because they may consume cold foods quickly. It is also reported more frequently among people who experience migraine headaches. Unlike migraine or some other types of headaches, brain freeze is short-lived and generally does not cause symptoms such as nausea or sensitivity to bright light and loud noise.

While brain freeze can be uncomfortable, it is not usually a cause for concern. The simplest approach is to slow down when consuming very cold foods and allow the mouth to warm naturally if the pain occurs. If a headache is severe, persistent or repeatedly occurs without a clear connection to cold foods or drinks, however, it should not automatically be attributed to brain freeze and may warrant medical advice.

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