What Is A Brain Freeze?
A brain freeze, sphenopalatine ganglion neuralgia, occurs when you rapidly consume cold food or drinks. The exact cause of a brain freeze is not entirely understood, but scientists have some theories based on studies.
When you ingest something icy, it cools the roof of your mouth rapidly. This cold is then transferred to the brain's nerves, causing a reaction. A study conducted in 2012 used a Doppler to measure the blood flow in the brains of 13 adults while they drank ice water and room-temperature water. The participants drank the ice water through a straw placed against the roof of their mouth until they felt a brain freeze. The researchers then measured these participants' brain resistance, heart rate, and blood pressure before, during, and after the brain freeze [1].
The study found that drinking ice water increased blood flow in the front brain arteries but not the middle blood vessels. Ice water also causes increased resistance in the brain. The researchers concluded that the brain freeze pain is caused by the increased blood flow and resistance in the brain's blood vessels. So, when you're experiencing a brain freeze, you might feel your brain's blood vessels reacting to the cold [1].
The symptoms of a brain freeze include a sharp and sudden onset of pain in the frontal part of the head, which can feel like a dull ache or a sharp pain. The pain can last anywhere from a few seconds to a full minute or two, depending on how much cold food or liquid you've consumed and how quickly you've consumed it [1].
How To Stop A Brain Freeze?
There's a simple and effective way to alleviate this discomfort. The moment you start to experience a brain freeze, press your tongue to the roof of your mouth. The heat from your tongue will transfer to your sinuses behind your nose, warming the nerve bundles that cause brain freeze. Keep your tongue firmly against the roof of your mouth until you feel the pain start to dissipate. You can keep your tongue on the roof of your mouth for as long as it takes for the brain freeze to completely disappear [1].
However, if your brain freeze lasts for more than 5 minutes, either with or without treatment, you may need to see your doctor. You should also seek help if you experience similar pain or discomfort when you haven’t consumed something cold or been in an extremely cold environment [1].
Can You Die From A Brain Freeze?
Brain freeze is typically not a life-threatening condition. It's a short-term reaction to consuming something cold, which can cause a sharp, sudden onset of pain in the frontal part of the head. Depending on how much and quickly the cold substance was consumed, this discomfort can last from a few seconds to a full minute or two [1].
In rare cases, consuming something cold can lead to other symptoms, such as an irregular heartbeat. If you experience intense headaches that last longer than 5 minutes after consuming something cold or if they occur without consuming something cold, it's recommended that you contact your doctor immediately [1].
There is no evidence to suggest that a brain freeze can cause death. The studies on brain death following cardiac arrest or hypothermia do not mention brain freeze as a contributing factor.
In conclusion, while a brain freeze can be uncomfortable, it is generally not a severe or life-threatening condition.