How ice cream may give you a headache; specialists on signs of mind freeze, prevention ideas
No matter how dangerous your day goes, a scoop of ice cream at all times does the trick and fills your coronary heart with happiness and luxury. However, for a lot of, a fast chew from an ice cream cone or cup can lead to a sudden and spitting headache. The ice cream-induced headache also referred to as mind freeze is non permanent and disappears inside few seconds however is sufficient to play a spoilsport. Enjoying your favorite frozen dessert in summer time is an easy pleasure no one desires to surrender, so it is best to comply with sure ideas that may alleviate or forestall this ache. (Also learn: 3 high-protein chocolate ice cream recipes to satiate summer sweet cravings)
Let’s perceive what truly causes ice cream headache or mind freeze first from specialists.
WHAT IS ICE CREAM HEADACHE
“Most people have experienced an ice cream headache or cold-stimulus headache that can feel like a sharp pain along with a blocked feeling surrounding the whole head. This pain occurs due to sudden constriction and numbness of blood vessels in the roof of the mouth after eating something cold. The pain can last anywhere from 20 seconds up to an hour depending on the severity of symptoms. Most cold-stimulated headaches go away within 2 minutes of occurring,” says Dr. Nitti Kapoor Kaushal Consultant- Neurology Manipal Hospital Patiala.
While ice cream headache is alleged to be innocent and goes away by itself, if the identical persists for a number of hours or happens too steadily, it is time to seek the advice of a physician.
SYMPTOMS OF ICE CREAM HEADACHE
In case, you might be nonetheless unsure if what you might be having after consuming a chilly deal with is an ice cream headache or not, listed below are some tell-tale indicators defined by Dr Syed Osman, Consultant – Neurology, CARE Hospitals, HITEC City, Hyderabad.
Ice cream complications sometimes exhibit the next traits:
1. Sudden onset: The headache emerges all of a sudden, normally inside seconds of consuming one thing chilly.
2. Intense ache: The ache is commonly described as sharp, stabbing, or throbbing, primarily positioned within the entrance of the pinnacle.
3. Duration: The headache tends to be short-lived, lasting for a couple of seconds as much as a few minutes.
4. Possible radiation: The ache could radiate to different areas, such because the temples, brow, or often the again of the pinnacle.
CAUSES OF ICE CREAM HEADACHE
Cold-stimulated ache is generally attributable to the consumption of very chilly meals and drinks reminiscent of ice cream, and chilly drinks however it will possibly additionally occur when an individual is extra delicate to temperature modifications or once they eat one thing chilly too shortly.
Dr Nitti says, that whereas the precise reason for ice cream headache is just not totally understood, however a prevailing idea means that the fast cooling and subsequent dilation of blood vessels play a job.
“When you consume something cold, like ice cream, the cold temperature quickly constricts the blood vessels in the roof of the mouth and the back of the throat. This initial constriction is followed by a rapid expansion of the blood vessels. The sudden expansion triggers pain receptors in the surrounding nerves, leading to the sensation of a headache,” she says.
HOW TO PREVENT ICE CREAM HEADACHE
Dr Osman suggests following preventive measures to fight ice cream complications or cut back their depth:
1. Slow down consumption: Avoid consuming chilly meals or drinks too shortly. Take small bites or sips and permit the meals or beverage to heat up barely in your mouth earlier than swallowing.
2. Warm stimulus: If you’re feeling an ice cream headache approaching, strive urgent your tongue or the roof of your mouth in opposition to the hotter a part of your mouth, such because the palate. The heat may also help counteract the fast constriction and enlargement of blood vessels, assuaging the ache.
3. Identify triggers: Pay consideration to particular chilly meals or drinks that persistently set off ice cream complications for you. Once recognized, you may restrict or keep away from these triggers to reduce the probability of experiencing a headache.
4. Use a straw: When consuming chilly drinks, utilizing a straw may also help bypass direct contact between the chilly liquid and the roof of your mouth, probably decreasing the prevalence of complications.
5. Apply heat: Applying a heat compress or ingesting a heat beverage can present aid by step by step warming the affected space and easing the constriction of blood vessels.
6. Relaxation strategies: Employing rest strategies like deep respiratory, meditation, or mindfulness workout routines could assist handle the discomfort related to ice cream complications.
“To prevent this kind of headache in the future, the person can be mindful when they are consuming cold eatables, they should wait for the food to reach a normal temperature and use a straw to minimize the contact of cold substances to the roof of the mouth. Another quick tip people can use to help with brain freeze is sticking their tongue to the roof of the mouth after consuming cold tems to warm up the area,” concludes Dr Nitti.