Ice cream headache

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Ice Cream Headache

Ice cream headache, also known as brain freeze, cold-stimulus headache, or sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia, is a short-term headache typically linked to the rapid consumption of cold beverages or foods such as ice cream.

Pronunciation

Ice Cream Headache: /ˈaɪs kriːm ˈhɛdeɪk/

Etymology

The term "ice cream headache" is derived from the common experience of sudden headache after consuming something cold too quickly, often ice cream. The term "sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia" is derived from the sphenopalatine ganglion, a group of nerve cells linked to the phenomenon, and "neuralgia", meaning nerve pain.

Description

An ice cream headache is characterized by a sudden, acute onset of pain in the forehead or temples, typically lasting less than five minutes. The pain is usually triggered by the rapid cooling and rewarming of the capillaries in the sinuses, caused by consuming cold food or drink.

Related Terms

  • Brain Freeze: Another common term for ice cream headache, referring to the sensation of cold affecting the brain.
  • Cold-Stimulus Headache: A more clinical term for the phenomenon, highlighting the role of cold stimuli in triggering the headache.
  • Sphenopalatine Ganglioneuralgia: The formal medical term for ice cream headache, referring to the involvement of the sphenopalatine ganglion.
  • Headache: A general term for pain in the head, of which ice cream headache is a specific, short-term type.
  • Neuralgia: A term for nerve pain, included in the formal term for ice cream headache.

External links

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