Ever gulped down an ice-cold drink and felt that sudden, sharp headache?
That’s a brain freeze. But did you know it has a fancy scientific name?
It’s called sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia. Try saying that three times fast.
This term refers to the quick-onset headache caused by consuming something cold too quickly.
So, what’s happening in your head during a brain freeze?
When something cold touches the roof of your mouth, it causes blood vessels to constrict rapidly.
As your body reacts to warm the area, these vessels expand quickly, triggering pain signals that your brain interprets as a headache, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Interestingly, people who suffer from migraines might be more prone to brain freezes.
Studies show a link between the two, possibly due to similar nerve pathways involved in both types of headaches.
Next time you feel that icy jolt, try pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth. It can help warm the area and ease the pain faster.
