From the Research
Brain freeze is a harmless condition that doesn't indicate any health concerns. This temporary headache occurs when something very cold touches the roof of your mouth, causing blood vessels in the brain to rapidly constrict and then dilate, triggering pain receptors. The pain typically lasts only 20-30 seconds and resolves completely on its own without treatment.
If you experience a brain freeze, you can speed up relief by pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth to warm the area, drinking something warm, or simply waiting it out. While uncomfortable, brain freezes don't cause any damage to your brain or blood vessels and aren't associated with any underlying medical conditions. Some people are more sensitive to this phenomenon than others, but there's no need for medical intervention or concern when it occurs.
According to a study published in 2020 1, the prevalence of headache attributed to ingestion or inhalation of a cold stimulus (HICS), also known as brain freeze, was 51.3% in a cohort of 618 people. The study found that the duration of HICS was shorter than 30 seconds in 92.7% of cases, and the pain intensity was higher in individuals with co-morbid primary headaches such as tension-type headache and migraine. However, the study concluded that neither migraine nor tension-type headache seems to be a risk factor for HICS.
The best prevention is to consume cold foods and drinks slowly, allowing them to warm slightly in your mouth before swallowing. This can help reduce the likelihood of experiencing a brain freeze. It's also worth noting that some people may be more prone to brain freezes due to individual differences in sensitivity to cold stimuli.
In rare cases, brain freeze may be associated with other underlying medical conditions, such as migraine or other headaches, as reported in a study published in 2016 2. However, this is not a cause for concern, and brain freeze itself is not a harmful condition.
Overall, brain freeze is a common and harmless condition that can be easily prevented and managed. There is no need for medical intervention or concern when experiencing a brain freeze, and individuals can take simple steps to alleviate the discomfort and prevent future occurrences.