What causes "brainfreezes"?
Question:
Answers:
The reaction can be triggered within a few seconds after a very cold substance consumed comes into contact with the roof of the mouth. This irritates nerves in the region (sphenopalatine ganglia), causing them to spasm. These nerves cause the blood vessels in the brain to dilate. When vessels in the brain dilate, a common effect is an acute headache (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 after 10-20 seconds after its onset, but sometimes 30-60 seconds, and can persist for up to 5 minutes in rare cases. The pain is usually located in the midfrontal area, but can be unilateral in the temporal, frontal, or retro-orbital region.
It has been reported that the pain can be relieved by moving the tongue to the roof of the mouth, 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. The pain may be avoided in the first place simply by eating the cold food or beverage more slowly.
Other Answers:
Your brain is actually pretty near to the back of your mouth, the back of your nasal passage there, past the uvula... It gets cold,,, feels like it is freezing up cuz it is.
More Questions and Answers
- ShouldI take none drowsy med at night?
- I don't like Sundays, anyone out there doing something interesting?
- What causes Panic Attacks?
- My brother was recently paralyzied.. does anyone have any tips on how to help him get back to a normal life?
- is lecithen good for you.pills, or granules?
- should we allow people to sell their organs for transplant?
- How can you avoid motion sickness?
- Why is my toe nail peeling?