Why brain freeze

Don't let it come to that," says McLauchlin. Though, the chances of this worst-case-scenario happening are very unlikely. Unlike migraines and other types of headaches, brain freeze pain will usually dissipate in 30 seconds or less, says McLauchlin. But it can last up to a couple of minutes. The way to "treat" brain freeze is to stop or slow down the consumption of whatever is triggering the pain.

And so the faster the blood warms up, the shorter it lasts," says McLauchlin. Once the brain freeze dissipates, you can get back to enjoying your food or beverage — more slowly this time. When you drink a cold beverage, you cool down the blood flowing through the internal carotid artery, which runs right behind the mouth and throat and to your brain.

Your body alerts you that the blood flowing to your brain is too cold — resulting in the painful sensation of brain freeze. To get relief, try drinking a warm beverage. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options. Get the Insider App. If possible, remove the cold food or drink from your mouth, and press your tongue or your thumb against the roof of your mouth.

Drinking warm water can help, too. Mydlarz whose favorite ice cream flavors include coffee and chocolate-cherry recommends taking smaller bites or sips of cold food and drink, and warming them up in your mouth before swallowing. Grabbing an aspirin or acetaminophen may not be worth it. In the majority of people, brain freeze headaches are so short lived that by the time pain medications kick in, the headache will be over. That is the only good thing about brain freeze: its brevity.

The quick change in blood vessel size and blood flow here is what causes pain. Other vessels in the surrounding area may also grow or shrink, including in areas like the forehead and behind the eyes, in the area between the skull and the brain called the meninges. All these areas transmit pain signals to the brain through the trigeminal nerve , a nerve responsible for many operations in the face and head. So, when your brain receives these signals, you perceive pain not just at the source of the problem, but also in the front of the head as well.

Why we get brain freeze is a bit of a mystery. And brain freeze even exists in the animal kingdom such as cats , likely serving the same function — slowing down the consumption of cold foods. The main differences are in the symptoms. Take, for example, migraines, which are the most common type of headaches. Migraines are typically associated with pain on one side of the head or the other, nausea, sensitivity to light and noise, and sometimes blurry vision. But the pathway is similar.

You want to bring the temperature of your mouth back up to normal, so the blood vessels can shrink back to their neutral state. It may be hard with something as delicious as a Bomb Pop on a hot summer day, but at least it will last longer. Hello, curious kids! Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS theconversation.

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