ice cream headache

See also: ice-cream headache and icecream headache

English

Alternative forms

• ice-cream headache, icecream headache

Noun

ice cream headache (plural ice cream headaches)

1. A type of headache caused by cold around the brain, either at the back of the throat when eating ice cream (as the name suggests), or from cold around the outside of the head. The latter is well known to surfers in cold windy conditions.
   • Harris, Mark (1997 September 6) “Cerebral vasoconstriction causing decrease in arterial flow may have role”, in Ice cream headache‎^[1], volume 315, number 609:

     In my wilder days as a winter surfer we all knew about the sickening frontal headache that resulted within seconds of driving through a breaking wave. The pain continued for 20 to 30 seconds, only to be reinforced by the next breaking wave. Even then (35 years ago) we always referred to the pain as the ice cream headache.

Synonyms

• brain freeze

Further reading

• Karl S. Kruszelnicki (2008). "Icecream Headache". Dr Karl. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.