Why do I get a headache when I have an icy drink or cold food?

Ooh, you’ve had brain freeze, an ice cream headache, or a cranium cramp (your cranium is your skull). It hurts, whatever you call it. The pain is triggered by temperature — of you and of what you’re eating.

When the cold drink or food touches the warm roof of your mouth, it sends your brain a signal: “Hey, I’m cold!” Since it’s important to keep your brain warm, your body sends more warm blood that way by swelling the blood vessels. That’s what hurts.

The pain usually goes away after about 30 seconds. If you want it to go away faster, you have to convince your brain you really are warm. Pressing your tongue on the roof of your mouth or sipping warm water should do the trick.