Keep a cool head? No, thanks WORDS: KAYLA BLANTON; KATE ROCKWOOD; RACHEL ZAR; KATY BOWMAN. PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES; DAN MATTHEWS. ARTWORK: MATT MURPHY AT HANDSOME FREAK
• If any physiological symptom needed a terrifically dramatic and thoroughly unscientific common name, it’s this one. Medically known as (ready?) sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia, it happens when the roof of your mouth or throat is cooled too quickly, explains Heather Viola, an assistant professor at Mount Sinai Doctors-Ansonia in New York. ‘Blood vessels throughout the head expand to let extra blood into the area for warmth, she says, adding that the surrounding nerve endings in the brain perceive this as a red flag, causing sudden pain, mostly in the forehead, temples and behind the eyes or nose. Breathing in cold air can also trigger brain freeze.
While brain freeze isn’t serious –and usually goes away on its own –Dr Viola points to research that has shown a link between brain freeze and migraine. ‘Some studies have revealed that brain freeze is more common in people who experience migraines,’ she says. Since both types of head pain are affected by blood flow in the brain, she recommends talking to your doctor if it turns out you’re experiencing brain freeze more often than usual. Oh, and the next time pain strikes, try this quick fix. ‘Press your tongue or thumb against the roof of your mouth to transfer warmth,’ adds Dr Viola. Very cool.
