>>>>Can anyone tell me what mechanism causes the rapid, brief headache pain
>>>>when a cold substance is ingested quickly?
>>>>Hm. What I remember hearing is that the cold chills the carotid arteries,
>>and that the cold blood shocks the lining of the brain, which is what
>>hurts. Similar location as migraines, but different type of pain, and of
>>course much shorter.
>>>>So far we've got, what, 5 responses and 5 theories?
>>>> -Harlan
>>>The last one is the correct one. The ice-cream headache occurs aftter swallowing
>the cold substance. The blood, ascending to the brain through the carotids close
>to the pharyngeal wall, is suddenly cooled. This temperature change elicits
>vascular reactions.
>Jan Nauta
>Groningen, the Netherlands
Just a thought, if this is actually the case, would it be possible to cool
the blood flowing through the carotid sufficiently from a source external
to the body, such as applying ice to the corresponding area of the neck,
to elicit the same type of reaction? - how many are willing to try?
E. (not yet a doctor of any sort, just a thinker)
