Brain Freeze: Facts vs Myths

If you've ever taken a bite of ice cream too fast and felt a sudden, jolting pain in your forehead, then you have experienced a brain freeze. Almost everyone has had brain freeze at least once. The pain comes and goes quickly. However, there are some myths about brain freeze that never seem to go away.

Myth: Your Brain Is Actually Freezing

Brain freeze is a great name, but it is a bit misleading. Your brain isn't frozen, nor is it even cold. A brain freeze is the result of a series of misunderstandings between blood vessels, a certain nerve and your brain.

Blood vessels in your mouth react to cold food or drink by constricting. Then they start to open up again as your body tries to warm up your mouth. Your trigeminal nerve picks up that switch from hot to cold as a message and sends it to your brain. Your brain reads that message and decides that you have a headache.

Fact: Brain Freeze Is a Headache

No matter the misunderstanding, the pain in your head is real. Brain freeze is usually considered a type of headache that is short-lived. A lot of the time, the pain only lasts 30 seconds or less. It is sometimes called an "ice cream headache." Some people confuse a brain freeze with a sinus infection headache but they are different. Those who get migraines are often more likely to get a brain freeze. Researchers think that people who suffer from migraines have trigeminal nerves that are more sensitive to rapid temperature changes.

Myth: There Is Nothing You Can Do

Another myth is that you are helplessly stuck with a brain freeze. There are a few simple things you can do to get rid of brain freeze faster.

If you experience one, try these tips:

• Press your tongue to the roof of your mouth.
• Drink something warm or room-temperature.
• Cover your mouth with your hand and take a deep breath.

All of these tips have something in common: they raise the temperature of your mouth. Reducing the speed at which you eat and drink, and warming your mouth, are typically the best things you can do to make your brain freeze go away.

Fact: Brain Freeze Is a Message To Slow Down

You are much more likely to get a brain freeze when you eat or drink something cold fast. That's why a brain freeze is a message from your body to slow down. Eat and drink at a slower pace. You'll probably find that you enjoy your food and drink more, too.

Your brain is sensitive to quick fluctuations in temperature. The pain of a brain freeze is sharp but it is over fast. And it's a helpful signal to savor the moment. In other words, maybe don't chug the milkshake.

When to Talk to a Provider

If you get frequent headaches or headaches that last longer than a few minutes, Baptist Health is here to help. These could be signs of a serious condition such as chronic migraines. Reach out to your Baptist Health primary care provider. If you don't have a provider, you can find one by visiting our provider directory.