Diseases & Conditions
What causes brain freeze?
Ask the doctors
Q. With summer finally here, I'm enjoying more ice cream — at least until I'm hit with the dreaded "brain freeze." What causes this?
A. Also dubbed an "ice cream headache," brain freeze is a common downside of relishing this frosty treat. The phenomenon happens when the temperature of the roof of the mouth and back of the throat drops drastically from the shot of cold. This sets off a chain reaction: blood vessels in the roof of the mouth rapidly narrow, which triggers brain arteries to dilate. Although the exact mechanism is not clear, it's likely the sudden artery wall expansions activate the trigeminal nerve, which relays sensory information from your face and head to your brain.
It's a nuisance, but brain freeze won't hurt you. It typically disappears within 30 seconds. To ease it faster, push your tongue to the roof of your mouth, which will help warm the area. You can also eat your ice cream a little slower or keep a warm drink on hand to sip if brain freeze strikes.
Image: © kumikomini/Getty Images
About the Authors
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
Hope Ricciotti, MD, Editor at Large, Harvard Women's Health Watch
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