Cold headache or brain freeze is medically known as sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia and describes the sudden headache in the forehead area when you consume ice-cold drinks or food. Although the headache passes quickly, it is very unpleasant and should be avoided in future.

 

When a cold drink touches the roof of the mouth, the blood vessels contract rapidly to reduce the loss of body heat. As soon as the cold subsides, they begin to expand again to warm up the mouth through rapid blood flow. The headache that follows is triggered when the pain receptors in the mouth transmit signals to the brain through the nerves. This results in a stabbing pain in the forehead.

Although highly uncomfortable, a cold headache is not dangerous and has no side effects.

Relief from cold headaches

Headaches can be relieved by quickly warming up the oral cavity. To do this, roll up your tongue and press it against the roof of your mouth. The underside of the tongue is warmer than the top, as the cold drink has not reached there.
Drink a warm, not too hot liquid slowly.
Cover your mouth and nose with your hand and breathe quickly to increase the temperature in the oral cavity.
Press your thumb against the roof of your mouth, provided your hands are not cold.
The pain usually subsides on its own after 30 to 60 seconds.

Prevention of cold headache

As you certainly don't want to miss out on ice-cold drinks and ice cream, brain freeze can be prevented by first letting the cold substance melt on the tongue and making sure that it doesn't touch the roof of the mouth. In this way, the temperature of the oral cavity gradually decreases and does not cause a shock-like contraction of the blood vessels.