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ICE CREAM HEADACHE

Ice cream headaches: When you eat ice cream, or any hard frozen dessert for that matter, you may get a very painful headache. This is caused by blood vessel spasms which are triggered by the intense cold from the ice cream. The resulting headache is much the same as a migraine - the spasms interrupt the blood flow and cause the vessels to swell. To avoid this, just eat your ice cream slower.

Ice Cream Headaches are officially know as 'sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia.'

Supposedly it is impossible to give yourself an ice cream headache in cold weather.
 

I received the following email from Don (3/15/03)
“I saw on tv the other day where the scientists have figured out that the headache is caused by the ice cream that touches the top of the mouth, closest to the brain, I guess.  So, to avoid it, don't let the cold touch the top of your mouth!”

Email from S.L. on 3/7/04
“Ice cream headaches are the worst!  However, you can obtain relief by pressing your thumb firmly against the roof of your mouth.  The pressure will being relief in a matter of minutes!”