Reaching for an icy glass of water, or ice cream in this sweltering heat? Here's why it can give you a HEADACHE

As temperatures continue to rise in the city, most of us reach out for a glass of cold water, ice cream, cold drinks etc, to keep us cool. While these foods give us temporary relief from the heat, they can also cause a sudden, sharp headache that is otherwise harmless, but can be uncomfortable..

What is an ice cream headache?
The headache you get from eating ice cream or drinking cold water, is known as“brain freeze” or a cold-stimulus headache. It feels like a stabbing pain in the forehead or temples, and usually lasts less than a few minutes. While the pain is short-lived, it can be intense and uncomfortable.


Why does it hurt?

Rapid change in temperature
When you eat or drink something icy cold, the temperature inside your mouth drops quickly. This sudden chill mainly affects the roof of your mouth and the back of your throat. The cold causes the small blood vessels in these areas to constrict (tighten) and then rapidly dilate (widen). This quick change in blood flow triggers pain receptors.

Trigeminal Nerve at play
The pain message travels along the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for the feeling in your face and head. The brain gets suddenly confused, and thinks the pain is coming from your forehead, not your mouth. This is called “referred pain,” and feels like it comes from the head, rather than the mouth.

What factors affect it?

Migraine
People who suffer from migraines are more likely to get these cold-induced headaches. Studies show that those with active migraines are twice as likely to experience a headache after drinking cold water than those who don’t have migraines.


Speed of eating or drinking
The faster you eat ice cream or gulp down cold water, the more likely you are to trigger a headache. Eating slowly gives your mouth time to adjust to the cold, reducing the shock to your blood vessels.

Symptoms

Sudden, sharp pain in the forehead or temples
Pain that starts within seconds of eating or drinking something cold
Throbbing or stabbing sensation
Pain that usually subsides within a few minutes

Is is harmful?

The good news is that ice cream headaches are harmless and not a sign of any serious health problem. They go away on their own and don’t cause lasting damage.

How to prevent these?
Eat or drink cold foods slowly.
Let the drink warm down a little before you consume it. While ice cream might melt, wait for a couple of minutes after taking it out from the freezer
If you get a headache, press your tongue against the roof of your mouth to warm it up.
Drinking a sip of warm water can also help the pain go away faster.