Many people know the feeling of eating ice cream or drinking something very cold and suddenly experiencing pain in the forehead. However, the pain typically lasts only a short time.
According to the BBC, this happens when the roof of the mouth or the back of the throat is cooled very quickly.
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Neurologist Amaal Starling of the Mayo Clinic explains to the BBC that the cold causes blood vessels to constrict.
They then widen again to restore normal blood flow.
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This can activate a nerve that sends pain signals from the face and forehead.
As a result, the pain feels as though it is located in the head rather than in the mouth.
Who is affected
Research reviewed by Irene Toldo of the University of Padua and published in Life suggests, according to the BBC, that cold-stimulus headaches may run in families.
Studies from several countries also indicate that people with migraine often experience the pain more intensely than others.
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The BBC reports that researchers have therefore used the phenomenon to gain a better understanding of headaches.
An important signal
Cold-stimulus headaches are generally not dangerous. They can often be avoided by eating ice cream more slowly or allowing the mouth to warm up between bites.
However, if the pain occurs frequently or is particularly severe, it may be worth considering whether other types of headaches are also present.
According to the BBC, this may, in some cases, point to migraine, which can be treated.
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