A person may have a headache or experience a "brain freeze" (brain freeze) when eating ice cream. You do not need to worry if you have experienced it, because this condition is often experienced by many people. This phenomenon occurs as a nervous response to cold ice cream as it enters the mouth.
Even though it is called a frozen brain, there is actually no disturbance in the brain when eating ice cream. The part of the body that is affected by cold ice cream is the blood vessels. The freezing sensation and headache are usually felt in the forehead for less than five minutes.
How does ice cream cause brain freeze?
According to experts, the brain freeze sensation occurs when cold ice cream hits the middle of the roof of the mouth or upper throat. When cold food or drink suddenly touches the roof of the mouth, nerves respond and trigger blood vessels in the head to dilate.
This rapid and sudden enlargement is what causes the head to feel sore, as if frozen or throbbing. The sudden increase in blood flow can increase the pressure inside the skull and cause pain associated with a brain freeze or other headaches.
According to research, brain freeze events could be a natural survival mechanism to keep the brain warm. This condition is not only triggered by ice cream. Any very cold food or drink can also make the blood vessels dilate.
How to Overcome a Freeze Brain
Frozen brain conditions can be resolved easily without the need for complicated medical treatment. Brain freeze usually goes away quickly (between 30-60 seconds) after swallowing cold food or drinks in the mouth.
Another way that can be done is to stick the tongue to the roof of the mouth, to warm the part. The heat energy given by the tongue will also warm the nerves that cause the brain to freeze. Press the roof of your mouth with your tongue until the brain freeze sensation is completely gone.
If you feel the sensation of a brain freeze or other headache for more than five minutes, occurs continuously and repeatedly, you should immediately consult a doctor. It could be that the condition is caused by other problems, not because of the influence of ice cream or cold drinks.
To avoid brain freeze, you are advised to eat ice cream or other cold drinks slowly. Don't forget to drink water and brush your teeth after eating ice cream. The main goal is so that the remnants of the ice cream are not left in the mouth and cause tooth decay.
