A brain freeze colloquially referred to as a headache or cold-stimuli headache, is a very short form of headache or short pain typically caused by consuming (especially sudden consumption) of cold foods or beverages such as ice pop or ice cream. While many people experience such headaches on a fairly regular basis, most are unaware that they may be suffering from brain freeze.
Brain Freeze:
The problem with a brain freeze is that it is usually temporary, causing some minor irritation and usually disappearing by the following morning.
However, what is not known is that there are various conditions that can cause or exacerbate brain freezes. In fact, the cause of brain freezes and headache is often not so much the cold itself but how it is triggered by the cold.
For instance, if a cold beverage is consumed after a cold workout, then this triggers the brain freeze that results in headaches and migraines. What’s more, it is not just cold drinks that trigger such headaches; foods that contain caffeine can also trigger a brain freeze.
Some pet experts consider a treat for pets also. So do dogs get brain freeze?
Facts about Brain freeze:
- Caffeine is known to trigger both the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system, which can both lead to a headache.
- Headaches and migraines are not just something you suffer when your head is covered with a fever. Some cases of headaches are caused by conditions like hypoglycemia, which is the condition where the blood sugar levels drop in the bloodstream for no apparent reason.
- Such conditions may also cause the body’s immune system to be more prone to the attack of headaches and thus may trigger the attack of headaches in the same way as a cold or flu, but in far shorter periods of time.
- However, the problem with such headaches and migraines is that they do not last long. For instance, a headache that lasts for three days might be a little irritating but it does not leave lasting damage to the body’s nerves.
- However, if a headache lasts more than three days, then it has the potential to cause a lot of problems. Thus, if you have experienced headaches and migraines at least three days, you should seek medical help for it.
- The reasons why someone would suffer from a brain freeze are not as obvious as those of headaches and migraines. But it is widely believed that a cold drink or food could cause the formation of brain freeze by triggering the sympathetic nervous system, while hot or spicy food could trigger the parasympathetic system.
- Symptoms of brain freeze include dizziness, loss of balance, nausea, blurred vision, extreme weakness, and even loss of consciousness. These symptoms are usually felt around the head and can range from mild to serious and life-threatening.
- While these symptoms are quite mild, the symptoms of brain freeze can also result in a headache that can be extremely painful. As a matter of fact, a headache caused by the sudden onset of a headache can cause permanent damage to the nerves or the muscles of the head and neck.
- The causes of brain freeze can actually be a symptom of a more serious medical condition such as migraine or tension headaches. If you find that you are experiencing severe headaches and headaches due to stress, it is highly recommended that you seek medical attention right away.
Conclusion:
Fortunately, there are treatments for both of these conditions that can alleviate the symptoms of a headache without making any long term damage to the body. In fact, some of the common treatment options for the two conditions are drugs such as alprazolam and triptans and herbal remedies such as St. John’s Wort and ginger root.