by AB-Joel on September 13th, 2004

AB-Joel

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What causes "brain freeze"?

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  • by Andy Is Wicked Married to Penal Colony on September 13th, 2004

    Andy Is Wicked Married to Penal Colony

    "Brain freeze" is the pain sometimes inflicted by devouring something cold like ice cream or a cold beverage, often very quickly.

    The reaction is (obviously) triggered by the cold ice cream or beverage; coming into contact with the roof of the mouth. It triggers nerves that give the brain the impression of a very cold environment. To heat up the brain again, blood vessels start to swell, which causes the headache-like pain for approximately 30 seconds.

    The temperature change in the roof of the mouth has to be rather drastic; this is why brain freeze often occurs on warm days.

    The pain can be relieved by putting the tongue to the roof of the mouth, which logically will heat it up.

    From:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_freeze

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  • by Alatea on October 21st, 2005

    Alatea

    Brain Freeze

    “While ice cream headaches are usually benign and brief, migraines are occasionally triggered by the cold stimulus.

    Ice cream headache has been studied as an example of referred pain. Experimenting on himself, Smith characterised the features of the headache. Applying crushed ice to the palate, he found that ipsilateral temporal and orbital pain developed 20-30 seconds later. Bilateral pain occurred when the stimulus was applied in the midline. The headache could be elicited only in hot weather; attempts to reproduce the pain during the winter were unsuccessful, even with use of a cold stimulus of the same temperature. Bird et al found a similar relation with respect to site of application of the cold substance and ipsilateral occurrence of the resultant pain. Some of their subjects also experienced an associated toothache.

    Raskin has suggested that ice cream headache may represent a model of migraine, in that both encompass disordered thresholds to sensory stimuli. It would be of interest to determine whether antimigraine drugs that modulate serotonergic pathways have any effect on ice cream headache.
    No treatment is usually required, and sufferers rarely seek medical attention. Since the posterior aspect of the palate is most likely to produce the referred pain of ice cream headache, avoiding contact of the cold food with this area can effectively eliminate the symptoms. Most people arrive at such preventive measures without the advice of doctors. Ice cream abstinence is not indicated. “

    http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/314/7091/1364

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  • by Illmatic67 on September 13th, 2004

    Illmatic67

    A "brain freeze" is caused by swellings of the blood vessels in the head...

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  • by Halskiisaklink on June 30th, 2007

    Halskiisaklink

    Richard Simmons.
    ...
    Nah, really, lol. When the cold matter enters your mouth (or the back of your mouth), your body responds to the sudden drop in temperature by constricting your blood vessels to increase blood flow and minimize heat loss. The blood vessels then stop being constricted and this release is interpreted by the brain as pain, giving you the unique sensation. Hope this helps.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_freeze

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  • by Otherfish on December 7th, 2005

    Otherfish

    I get brain freezes easily when I drink something very cold or eat ice cream. What I do when I get one is: I take repeated deep breaths in an out about ten or so and this relieves the pain right away. My thinking was that the warm air from the lungs reversed the situation. Try this and let me know if it works for you. iloveorange@earthlink.net

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  • by SgtThor on July 13th, 2009

    SgtThor

    It is caused by quickly eating or drinking very cold substances. It is the result of the rapid cooling and rewarming of the blood vessels on the roof of the mouth.

    It only happens when it is hot outside, you cannot get it on cold days.

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  • by KelJo85 on July 13th, 2009

    KelJo85

    Eating ice cream too fast!

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  • by jennybabes44 on July 13th, 2009

    jennybabes44

    slush puppy or ice of any sort!

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  • by XT on July 13th, 2009

    XT

    Slupee from 7-Eleven.

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  • by Lippycow on July 13th, 2009

    Lippycow

    Very cold drinks:)

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  • by Shanel with an S on July 13th, 2009

    Shanel with an S

    7-11 sluprees!

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  • by Firebrand on July 13th, 2009

    Firebrand

    Nerves, Tiredness

    Or it could just be I have a ditz moment.

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  • by Phillis - Zacks little sister on July 13th, 2009

    Phillis - Zacks little sister

    Math! +5

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  • by Jessica on July 13th, 2009

    Jessica

    ice creamm!

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  • by dead leaves raked in a pile on July 13th, 2009

    dead leaves raked in a pile

    too much ice cream too fast

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  • by Big B on January 30th, 2009

    Big B

    I don't have a brain, so I don't have to worry about brain freeze...

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  • by Chopsy the Diver on June 30th, 2007

    Chopsy the Diver

    The reaction can be sometimes triggered within a few seconds after a very cold substance consumed comes into contact with the roof of the mouth. The body's response to cold environments is to vasoconstrict the peripheral vasculature (to reduce the diameter of blood vessels). This vasoconstriction is in place to reduce blood flow to the area, and thus minimize heat loss to keep warmth in the body. After vasoconstriction, they return to normal status and artery size results in massive dilation (vasodilation) of the arteries that supply the palate (descending palatine arteries). The nerves in the region of the palate (greater and lesser palatine nerves) sense this as pain and transmit the sensation of this pain back to the trigeminal ganglia. This results in pain that is referred to the forehead and below the orbit, other regions from which the trigeminal nerve receives sensation (This phenomenon is partially similar to the referred pain that is present in the left arm when someone is having a myocardial infarction). A similar effect occurs when one takes a prescription vasodilator, such as Nitroglycerin or Viagra. It is a stabbing or aching type of pain that usually recedes within 10–20 seconds after its onset, but sometimes 30–60 seconds, and can persist for up to five minutes in rare cases. The pain is usually located in the midfrontal area, but can be unilateral in the temporal, frontal, or retro-orbital regions :)

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  • by edong23 on December 26th, 2006

    edong23

    it is the blood in your neck getting cold and going to the brain. the only time i get brain freeze is when i swollow alot of ice cream and it goes down slow. nothing to do with the roof of my mouth at all. i could get brain freeze without anything touching the roof. but if you put your hands on your neck and warm the blood going to the brain it goes away.

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  • by Adz3r0 on February 10th, 2009

    Adz3r0

    My frozen margaritas. I don't use ice. I freeze strawberries and blend the tequila and margarita mix with that. The frozen strawberries emit cold longer than the ice, because the damned things don't melt. But what a SWEET ride...

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  • by anddeb on February 2nd, 2009

    anddeb

    Drinking or eating something that is cold and it rushes to the head and gives a pain known as brain freeze.

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  • by Carpediem COAT ab imo pectore on February 2nd, 2009

    Carpediem COAT ab imo pectore

    I don't think I ever had one, but I honestly don't exactly what it means.

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  • by Anon on January 30th, 2009

    Anon

    I've never had it before, I really don't get what it's all about.

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  • by Halskiisaklink on January 30th, 2009

    Halskiisaklink

    Cranial refrigeration.

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  • by Pepe Le Stink on February 10th, 2009

    Pepe Le Stink

    Dairy Queen Blizzards

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  • by Bridget on February 10th, 2009

    Bridget

    Slurpin down a slushie

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  • by Anonymous on January 30th, 2009

    Anonymous

    slush puppies

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  • by hunnieechen on August 18th, 2009

    hunnieechen

    This is my research assignment to my N104 subject...

    It is commonly experienced when applying to the roof of the mouth (palate) or when swallowing it.Typically the headache appears in about 10 seconds and lasts about 20 seconds although some people experience much longer lapses of pain, with the pain seeming to relate to the same side of the head as the cold substance was applied to the palate, or to both sides of the head in the case of swallowing.

    The most effective way to prevent it is to consume the cold food or liquid at a slower rate. Keeping it in one's mouth long enough for the palate to become used to the temperature is also an effective preventative.

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  • by Jaina20 on April 20th, 2009

    Jaina20

    I know someone who has false teeth and anything cold doesn't touch the roof of her mouth ever but she still gets brain freeze.

  • by raylrodr on February 10th, 2009

    raylrodr

    Those screaming blue slusshies are a brain cell killer if I have ever encountered one.

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  • by tomeygirl on February 10th, 2009

    tomeygirl

    Drinking a grape slush from the Sonic! Very good though,the slush I mean.

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  • by blobby on January 30th, 2009

    blobby

    ninja's

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  • by coopinator on January 31st, 2011

    coopinator

    Brain freeze also known in acient Babylonian times as 'schito mos' was beleived back then to have been caused by the gods because of taking too much pleasure in the food or drink you have consumed. So why then was it just cold food. They beleive 'Apsu' the god of underworld oceans was jealous of their pleasure and sent a cold wave to the brain to cause pain and sin you for your greed.

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  • by whoboo on December 2nd, 2010

    whoboo

    If you drink frozen drinks like frozen pina colada, daquiris, etc. add some black pepper and stir it in well. You can't taste the pepper and it always works for me.
    People might think you are crazy, but it works. The only problem is you can drink it faster and then you want another. I love them.

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  • by coopinator on January 31st, 2011

    coopinator

    Brain freeze also known in acient Babylonian times as 'schito mos' was beleived back then to have been caused by the gods because of taking too much pleasure in the food or drink you have consumed. So why then was it just cold food. They beleive 'Apsu' the god of underworld oceans was jealous of their pleasure and sent a cold wave to the brain to cause pain and sin you for your greed.

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  • by Rob_A8923 on February 24th, 2011

    Rob_A8923

    what a load of codsawallop....! "Brainfreeze" my arse !

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  • by Volt on January 2nd, 2007

    Volt

    Too many sugery slush puppies!!

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  • by Anonymous on October 19th, 2010

    Anonymous

    This can occur when you quickly eat or drink something cold. However, your brain does not actually freeze. In the roof of your mouth there are lots of very sensitive nerves that protect your brain. When these nerves feel something cold like ice cream or a frozen drink, they think the brain is too cold and automatically send messages to the brain telling it to “warm up.” In order to get warm, blood vessels in the brain dilate, or swell. This causes the painful sensation that lasts about 30 to 50 seconds.
    About a third of the population experiences this type of pain at one time or another. People who get migraine and tension headaches may be more likely to feel pain after eating or drinking something cold. There are some things you can do to prevent the pain. As yummy as that ice cream or Slurpee may be, take your time between bites and sips. If you do feel pain, warm up your mouth by sipping something warm or touching the roof of your mouth with your tongue.

    Taken from:
    http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080421144931AAiKaDB

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  • by scloyd on October 1st, 2010

    scloyd

    When a person eats something cold such as ice cream it freezes the roof of their mouth and along with the blood vessels or capillaries that allow blood to flow to the brain. Well when the roof of your mouth freezes it restricts the vessels from allowing the blood flow to your brain. Once the roof of your mouth warms up the blood vessels become unrestricted allowing blood flow to continue..thus creating what we call a "brain freeze."

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  • by BayBoy98 on July 3rd, 2010

    BayBoy98

    Yesterday I had the worst BF I've ever had. I don't get migraines, but I'm sure this was similar. It was a very hot day here in Chicago and I was trying my first McDonalds caramel Frappe drink. Because it's made by blending crushed ice, it's a very cold drink. I took a few sips and after about 10 seconds I thought my head was going to explode. The pain was incredible. I was driving in rush hour traffic on the freeway and would have pulled over if I could have. I had never experienced that bad of a BF. I'm sure it did permanant damage. ;-) I finished the frappe with very small sips and that seemed to help.

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  • by daveHogan on May 5th, 2010

    daveHogan

    listening to Obama talk

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  • by trustmeimadoctor on July 20th, 2010

    trustmeimadoctor

    The brain freeze is caused from eating too much of a cold substance too fast. But the best way to cure it quickly, is to press your thumb to the roof of your mouth. It relieves the pain instantly because it is rewarming the blood vessels in the roof of your mouth.

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  • by trustmeimadoctor on July 20th, 2010

    trustmeimadoctor

    The brain freeze is caused from eating too much of a cold substance too fast. But the best way to cure it quickly, is to press your thumb to the roof of your mouth. It relieves the pain instantly because it is rewarming the blood vessels in the roof of your mouth.

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  • by Runs with scissors on September 17th, 2010

    Runs with scissors

    I dont have an answer,but I had a brain freeze and blacked out,came to I was laying on the sidewalk with a spilled frappichino,any answers for that??

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  • by Firebrand on January 6th, 2007

    Firebrand

    In my case I regret to say 'Brain freeze " happens any time I try to think too hard. Different kind of freeze I know but my brain freezes just the same

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  • by anglrckx on January 6th, 2007

    anglrckx

    When something cold touches the roof of your mouth on a hot day, it triggers a cold headache. The cause is a dilation of blood vessels in the head. The dilation may be caused by a nerve center located above the roof of your mouth -- when this nerve center gets cold, it seems to over-react and tries to heat your brain.

    Therefore, the easy way to avoid "brain freeze" is to keep cold things away from the roof of your mouth!

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  • by Sparky on June 25th, 2008

    Sparky

    I don't know the answer but I get severe migraines, but have never had brain freeze. I've tried putting cold things (ice cream, freezies, etc.) on the roof of my mouth and it never works. Even when I was a kid. Freaky!

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  • by Jtigger on October 15th, 2007

    Jtigger

    When something cold touches the roof of your mouth, it triggers a cold headache. The cause is a dilation of blood vessels in the head. The dilation may be caused by a nerve center located above the roof of your mouth -- when this nerve center gets cold, it seems to over-react and tries to heat your brain causing the dreaded "brain freeze"..
    Therefore, the easy way to avoid "brain freeze" is to keep cold things away from the roof of your mouth!

    http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/314/7091/1364

    http://www.myslurpeecup.com/brainfreeze.html

    http://www.thebrainfreeze.com/

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  • by MAD COW on October 19th, 2008

    MAD COW

    An editorial was published in the British Medical Journal[1] on ice cream headache; it referenced several articles on the effect of rapid consumption of cold foods or beverages. It has been studied as an example of referred pain, an unpleasant sensation localised to an area separate from the site of the painful stimulation.

    The effect occurs when something very cold, such as ice cream, touches the top palate in the mouth. The blood vessels constrict due to the cold. This makes the nerves send a signal to the brain to open blood vessels. But this rapid opening of the blood vessels makes fluid back up in the tissues that won't drain for thirty seconds to a minute. This causes a slight swelling in the forehead that causes pain.

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  • by nightline on January 30th, 2009

    nightline

    Slushies

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  • by angelad1224 on May 5th, 2010

    angelad1224

    “ Brain Freeze” is the pain sometimes painful by eating or drinking something cold like ice cream or a cold beverage, sometimes very quickly.
    The reaction is caused by the cold ice cream or beverage. It causes nerves that give the brain the impression of a very cold environment. To heat up the brain again, blood vessels start to swell, which causes the headache-like pain for 30 minutes.
    I get brain freezes easily when I drink something very cold or eat ice cream. What I do when I get one is: I take repeated deep breaths in an out about ten or so and this relieves the pain right away. My thinking was that the warm air from the lungs reversed the situation. Try this and let me know if it works for you.

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