I’ve always wondered why, if I eat ice cream to fast I get a headache. How is that possible. Is the blood too cold going to the brain? But I heard that an injured brain feels no pain. whats going on?
The cause of ice cream headache is far from clear. One plausible explanation is that the cold causes constriction of blood vessels near the point of contact, which in turn causes the blood to back up painfully inside the head.
Griespace, above is a cite from the qouted link. I do not know if you want to know more, but probably you’d be surprised to know that a normal (uninjured) pain does not feels pain.
Peace
what’s really strange is that when I get a migraine headache, eating ice cream and other forms of applying cold to my skull (sticking my head in the snow, etc.) aleviates my pain, which contrasts strongly with people who actually get a migrane from ice cream…
Aspirin also has a very good affect, if taken in time, which leads me to believe my headaches actually benefit from the constriction of blood vessels in my skull…
from
http://neurologychannel.com/migraine/
quote:
Theories regarding the actual headache and pain in migraine are based on an understanding of the complex pain-sensitive structures in the head. Interestingly, while the brain itself is devoid of pain receptors, the meninges (ultrathin membranes that surround the brain), blood vessels, and bony anatomy of the head have an intricate system of small nerve branches that are sensitive to pain. The trigeminal nerve in particular has been found to cause vasodilation, a widening of blood vessels and subsequent increase in blood flow. When the trigeminal system is activated, neurochemicals are released into different parts of the brain. These may in turn activate specific blood cells and cause them to release substances that cause inflammation.
end quote
but the dynamics of an icecream headache seem to be a bit different
from:
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/newton/askasci/1993/biology/bio034.htm
quote:
So, in our consideration of why ice cream might cause a headache, several factors might all come into play: the decrease in blood flow as Lou Harnisch suggested; the constrictive response to cold of the muscles of the mouth, neck, and
ultimately head; the increase in blood pressure do to stimulation of digestion; the sharp increase in blood sugar and insulin levels in response to the sugary treat; and maybe even the guilt one feels for eating an ice cream
cone (NO! That could not possibly be a reason!). I have even read one medical authority who believes that the headache could be triggered by an allergic reaction to milk proteins, and indeed, many people have allergies to
milk.
-end quote
Far from being an authoritive source, I know, but food for thought…
Saraphin, it looks like you did some research. You must love ice cream, to stand these headaches. I am curious, could the effects be separated, by “eating” ice cubes? Water, fruit juice?
Peace
Actually, I’m not a fan of ice cream in the least. It’s just when I get a migraine headache, ice cream is a wonderful relief, the faster i wolf it down the better.
I would probably have better success with a frozen margerita. 
As for ice cream causing headaches, it’s never happened. I get a real funny feeling in the skull for a few moments if I down a slurpee really fast, but nothing to the point of a migraine headache.
Then, let me turn the question around: will a slurpee help or Italian Ice or … something cold but with no sugar? To eliminate possible glucose effect.
Peace
To quickly alleviate the pain of a “brain freeze” simply press the palm of your hand against the carotid artery in your neck. The exposed blood vessles in your hand warm the blood going to your brain and helps stop the pain much sooner.
Zenster,
whatever the advice is worth:
- Whatever the reason for the hedache, it’s not the cold blood (“brain freeze”).
- The carotid artery is ~1" deep in your neck, behind tissue and muscles.
- The surface of your hand is a few degrees colder than the surface of your neck.
- Is it personal experience?
Peace
A friend posed this question, for which I had no answer, the other day:
“If an ‘ice cream headache’ is caused by too quickly eating/drinking something cold, will immediately eating/drinking something hot relieve the pain?”
I have not had the opportunity as yet to experiment, so I’ll toss out the question here.
Ice cream and coffee, anyone?