From the Research
Drinking cold beverages does not actually freeze your brain, but rather causes a temporary headache known as "brain freeze" or sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia. This condition occurs when something very cold touches the roof of your mouth, causing blood vessels to constrict and then rapidly dilate, triggering pain receptors that send signals through the trigeminal nerve to your brain 1. To prevent or treat brain freeze, try:
- Drinking cold beverages slowly
- Keeping them away from the roof of your mouth
- Pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth to warm the area If you're already experiencing brain freeze, stop consuming the cold item and press your thumb or tongue against the roof of your mouth to warm it 2. The pain typically subsides within 30-60 seconds, as reported in a study published in 2020 2. It's essential to note that brain freeze is a common and harmless condition, but if you experience frequent or severe headaches, you should consult a healthcare professional to rule out any underlying medical conditions 3. In addition, a study published in 2016 found that rapid ingestion of ice-cold foods and beverages can precipitate paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, a condition that requires medical attention 4. However, this is a separate condition from brain freeze, and the mechanisms are distinct. Overall, brain freeze is a temporary and harmless condition that can be prevented and treated with simple measures.