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How An ‘Ice Cream Headache’ Can Be Treated Effectively
Most people like an ice cream, but a condition called an ‘ice cream headache’ sounds like something we can all do without.
This is not, however, just a slight feeling that comes on when one consumes very cold food, although it does have a certain similarity to the pain that can be felt in sensitive teeth, with the pain shooting through the nerves as it struggles to deal with the cold.
The term ‘ice cream headache’ is also sometimes known as ‘brain freeze’, although that might sound more like a failure of decision-making that causes a major error. Its technical term is sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia.
The root of the problem relates to damage to the trigeminal nerve, with common causes including a blood vessel pressing on it, or conditions such as multiple sclerosis or a tumour.
Cases of sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia are not the same thing as trigeminal neuralgia, but the issue also relates to problems with the nerves in that part of the brain. To an extent, anyone can get one of these headaches, just as people do not need to have extra sensitive teeth to feel pain from eating an ice cream.
However, for some people, this vulnerability is greater and this is due to a nerve issue, specifically the sphenopalatine ganglion nerve. These are adjacent to the trigeminal nerves, which means a problem with one could equally cause an issue with the other, as they are all associated with headaches.
The specific location of the sphenopalatine ganglion nerve is in the brain just behind the nose. Because they protect the brain, they need to be highly sensitive to pain. While this may be useful in protecting the most vital organ in the body, however, it does mean that any dysfunction that leads to extra pain here will be extremely unpleasant.
Alternatively, there may be a possible link with migraines and even atrial fibrillation, which means that if anyone suffers an ice cream headache alongside an irregular heartbeat, they should contact their GP about it.
In addition, anyone whose headache lasts for more than a few minutes or who gets one without exposure to something very cold should also see their doctor, as that might be a possible indication of something more serious.
A key question is that of treatment. Like other treatments we undertake for nerve problems, these can isolate painful nerves to ensure they do not transmit pain. This could be particularly useful for those who suffer regularly every time they consume anything cold.
This can be achieved through a sphenopalatine ganglion block, an operation that can be performed with functional endoscopic sinus surgery. This will, in effect, remove the capacity for pain signals to be felt in the nerve as it is blocked off, so that you will not feel any pain as a result of consuming cold food or drink.
Patients can try a couple of things themselves to tackle the problem. One of them is to avoid cold food and drink. A more practical step is to press the tongue against the roof of the mouth, as this will transfer body heat to the area and thus take away the cold that is causing the problem.
For most people, an ice cream headache is not a major problem because it is not chronic, can easily be avoided, is manageable and does not usually last for long.
However, on occasion, it can be associated with more serious medical conditions and for those who have persistent nerve pain and headaches, such as trigeminal neuralgia sufferers, further treatments such as a sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia block may be warranted.
If you do have a persistent problem in this area, it is well worth consulting to see if you could benefit from some form of surgical intervention that may enable you to gain relief from the problem.
This is not, however, just a slight feeling that comes on when one consumes very cold food, although it does have a certain similarity to the pain that can be felt in sensitive teeth, with the pain shooting through the nerves as it struggles to deal with the cold.
The term ‘ice cream headache’ is also sometimes known as ‘brain freeze’, although that might sound more like a failure of decision-making that causes a major error. Its technical term is sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia.
Similarity With Trigeminal Neuralgia
As a condition, it is related to - but different from - trigeminal neuralgia, a condition that can bring sudden severe headaches, usually to just one side of the face or head, accompanied by sensations such as throbbing or burning. This can be triggered very easily through activities like eating, drinking, talking or even having the wind blowing on your face.The root of the problem relates to damage to the trigeminal nerve, with common causes including a blood vessel pressing on it, or conditions such as multiple sclerosis or a tumour.
Cases of sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia are not the same thing as trigeminal neuralgia, but the issue also relates to problems with the nerves in that part of the brain. To an extent, anyone can get one of these headaches, just as people do not need to have extra sensitive teeth to feel pain from eating an ice cream.
However, for some people, this vulnerability is greater and this is due to a nerve issue, specifically the sphenopalatine ganglion nerve. These are adjacent to the trigeminal nerves, which means a problem with one could equally cause an issue with the other, as they are all associated with headaches.
The specific location of the sphenopalatine ganglion nerve is in the brain just behind the nose. Because they protect the brain, they need to be highly sensitive to pain. While this may be useful in protecting the most vital organ in the body, however, it does mean that any dysfunction that leads to extra pain here will be extremely unpleasant.
Causes And Treatments
Some research has suggested cold foods and liquids may cool the blood vessels and trigger a nerve reaction, by altering the flow of blood.Alternatively, there may be a possible link with migraines and even atrial fibrillation, which means that if anyone suffers an ice cream headache alongside an irregular heartbeat, they should contact their GP about it.
In addition, anyone whose headache lasts for more than a few minutes or who gets one without exposure to something very cold should also see their doctor, as that might be a possible indication of something more serious.
A key question is that of treatment. Like other treatments we undertake for nerve problems, these can isolate painful nerves to ensure they do not transmit pain. This could be particularly useful for those who suffer regularly every time they consume anything cold.
This can be achieved through a sphenopalatine ganglion block, an operation that can be performed with functional endoscopic sinus surgery. This will, in effect, remove the capacity for pain signals to be felt in the nerve as it is blocked off, so that you will not feel any pain as a result of consuming cold food or drink.
Alternatives To Surgical Intervention
The alternative to having such treatment is to go on suffering. But that means every time a patient has an ice cream, enjoys a cold drink with ice or even eats cold food, they could be vulnerable to the pain.Patients can try a couple of things themselves to tackle the problem. One of them is to avoid cold food and drink. A more practical step is to press the tongue against the roof of the mouth, as this will transfer body heat to the area and thus take away the cold that is causing the problem.
For most people, an ice cream headache is not a major problem because it is not chronic, can easily be avoided, is manageable and does not usually last for long.
However, on occasion, it can be associated with more serious medical conditions and for those who have persistent nerve pain and headaches, such as trigeminal neuralgia sufferers, further treatments such as a sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia block may be warranted.
If you do have a persistent problem in this area, it is well worth consulting to see if you could benefit from some form of surgical intervention that may enable you to gain relief from the problem.