Ice cream headaches

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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

You know the feeling. One bite into an ice cream cone and you're struck with a stabbing headache. Ice pops, slushy frozen drinks, and other cold foods and drinks can have the same "brain freeze" effect.

But there's good news. Most ice cream headaches are gone in the time it would take you to say their medical name — "headache attributed to ingestion or inhalation of a cold stimulus."

DS00640

Feb. 20, 2008

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