What exactly is happening when you get an "ice cream headache".?
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The reaction can sometimes be triggered within a few seconds after a very cold substance consumed comes into contact with the roof of the mouth. The pain is not caused by the cold temperature alone, rather quick warming of the cold palate. Letting the mouth slowly adjust back to normal temperatures can prevent this from occurring. Brain freeze is often a result of speaking or breathing out of the mouth after consuming something cold. 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 similar to the pain that is present in the left arm when someone is having a myocardial infarction or heart attack). 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.[citation needed]
It has been reported that the pain can be relieved by moving the tongue to the roof of the mouth,[1] which will cause greater warmth in the region; it is also believed that the pain can be relieved by slowly sipping room temperature water. Laying the head to the side may also provide relief. Creating a mask with one's hands placed over the mouth and nose while breathing rapidly is also said to be useful as the temperature in the mouth rises quickly. A report was submitted to the British Medical Journal on brain freeze; it focused on the effect of speed of consumption of ice cream on causing brain freeze. Commonly referred to as "ice cream headaches," it has been studied as an example of referred pain,[2] an unpleasant sensation localized to an area separate from the site of the painful stimulation.
It has been estimated that "30% of the population" experiences brain freeze or freeze head from ice cream.[3] Some studies suggest that brainfreeze is more common in people who experience migraines. Raskin and Knittle found this to be the case, with brain freeze occurring in 93% of migraine sufferers and in only 31% of controls. However, other studies found that it is more common in people without migraines.[citation needed] These inconsistencies may be due to differences in subject selection–the subjects of the first study were drawn from a hospital population, whereas the controls in the second were student volunteers, making the tests inconclusive.[citation needed]
it's just a brain freeze, nothing happens really. it doesn't last long
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ice-cre...
Brain freeze, cold headache, ice cream headache, freezie, Frozen Brain Syndrome, or its given scientific name sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia are terms used to describe a form of cranial pain or headache which people are known to sometimes experience after consuming cold beverages or foods such as ice cream, slurpees, or margaritas, particularly when consumed quickly.
And Wikipedia goes on to say more on the subject, but it's just too long for here.
Ice cream headaches
Introduction
You know the feeling. One bite into an ice cream cone and you're struck with a stabbing headache. Ice pops, slushy frozen drinks, and other cold foods and drinks can have the same "brain freeze" effect.
But there's good news. Most ice cream headaches are gone in the time it would take you to say their medical name — "headache attributed to ingestion or inhalation of a cold stimulus."
Signs and symptoms
Ice cream headaches cause sharp, stabbing pain in the forehead. The pain often peaks about 30 to 60 seconds after it begins. Ice cream headaches rarely last longer than a minute or two.
Causes
Ice cream headaches are caused by cold material moving across the roof of your mouth and the back of your throat, as happens when you eat ice cream quickly or gulp a cold drink. This may temporarily alter blood flow in your brain, causing a brief headache. Some researchers suspect that the pain is referred from the palate or teeth along the trigeminal nerve, which delivers sensory information from the face, teeth and tongue to the brain.
Risk factors
Ice cream headaches can affect anyone. But you may be more susceptible to ice cream headaches if you're prone to migraines.
When to seek medical advice
Ice cream headaches don't pose any medical concerns. But it's a good idea to mention the headaches to your doctor — especially if the headaches are frequent or severe.
Complications
Ice cream headaches aren't associated with any complications.
Treatment
Ice cream headaches rarely need treatment. Typically, the pain quickly disappears after the cold food or drink is swallowed.
Prevention
To help prevent ice cream headaches, eat cold foods and drink cold beverages slowly. It also helps to warm up cold foods in the front of your mouth before swallowing. There's no need to avoid ice cream or other cold foods and drinks.
Wind, Heat, Humidity, Dryness and Coldness are five energies in our body which decide our constitution and organ functioning. Coldness energy is related with pain, hence if this energy is already excessive in your body and you take cold foods or even go in cold atmosphere you will suffer from disorders related to pain -hence your H/A.
There is no medicine for H/A OR MIGRAINE. Not only these but for almost all painful diseases. Hence they become chronic.
Acidity, excessive wind, cold , heat, sour food and sinusitis, constipation, intestinal inflammation;
Blockage in the flow of Vital Energy are their causes. None of them can be treated with medicine. Our 100% success in treating migraine &H/A confirms it.
Acupuncture is the best treatment. I can treat it with naturopathy and YOG, but how can you manage pl see.
Avoid late sleeping if possible;spicy, sour, stale bakery foods and alcohole.
Sweet foods, sweet fruits, milk, rice and good sleep will help you.
If it is acute pl search a painful point 3-6 mm behind your thumb nail and press it, H/A will disappear within 30 seconds.
Source(s):
SHREE SWASTHYAYOG TREATMENT, TRAINING & RESEARCH INSTITUTE
R.H. – 19, Jhulelal Society, Sector – 2/E, Airoli, Navi Mumbai, INDIA.
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