Cold-stimulus headache
A cold-stimulus headache, colloquially known as an ice-cream headache or brain freeze, is a form of brief pain or headache commonly associated with consumption (particularly quick consumption) of cold beverages or foods such as ice cream, popsicles, and snow cones. It is caused by a cold substance touching the roof of the mouth, and is believed to result from a nerve response causing rapid constriction and swelling of blood vessels, "referring" pain from the roof of the mouth to the head. The rate of intake for cold foods has been studied as a contributing factor. It can also occur during a sudden exposure of unprotected head to cold temperatures, such as by diving into cold water. A cold-stimulus headache is distinct from dentin hypersensitivity, a type of dental pain that can occur under similar circumstances.
| Cold-stimulus headache | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Ice-cream headache, brain freeze |
| A young girl hastily consuming ice cream, a common cause of cold-stimulus headaches, which are aptly called "brain freezes" or "ice-cream headaches" | |
| Specialty | Neurology |
| Duration | 20 seconds to 2 minutes depending on severity |
| Causes | Quick consumption of cold foods and beverages or prolonged oral exposure to cold stimuli |
| Treatment | Removal of the cold stimulus from the oral cavity and thrusting the tongue towards the tip of the nose or roof of the mouth to relieve pain. Drinking warm water can also ease pain. |
Cats and other animals have been observed exhibiting a similar reaction when presented with a similar stimulus.