April 18, 2005 3:55 PM
Brainfreeze
Do you get brainfreeze? Do your kids? I really want to know.
Summer's officially here and I've already had my first brainfreeze from my first Slurpee.
For you lucky people in the 70% of the population who don't get brainfreeze, let me explain on behalf of the 30% who do: You are blissfully eating your ice cream or sipping your slurpee, when suddenly you are blinded with the pain of being stabbed in the skull. For a minute you think you will die, then it slips away, leaving you wondering if you really want another sip.
If you are a parent who does not suffer from brainfreeze, you may have children who do. I was unable to turn up any information on the genetics of brain freeze, but in our family, some kids have it and some don't.
My google on brainfreeze really turned up very little science. The most exhaustive source of information seems to be MySlurpeeCup.
Only one thing I found not mentioned there: a cure for brainfreeze is pulling on your upper lip. I definitely intend to try that next time.
Comments
Boy, do I ever get brain freeze! I always have to be careful when we go to Sonic, that I don't wolf down my slushy. I have tried pulling on my upper lip (didn't work) and putting my tongue against the roof of my mouth (works sometimes.) The theory behind the tongue method is that the blood vessels constrict and the warmth of your tongue kind of opens them back up.
Evan seems immune to brain freeze, by the way!
Posted by: Lori F | April 18, 2005 8:05 PM
I don't get brainfreeze. One of my sons used to have it terribly when he'd eat ice cream--I'd keep a cup of warm water nearby for him.
Posted by: Mel | April 18, 2005 8:48 PM
I so get brainfreeze . . and I was completely unaware that some don't get it! It must further enchance the enjoyment of cold treats. Something to think about as tomorrow is free cone day at Ben & Jerry's . (info. courtesy of Tulipgirl.)
Posted by: blueyedtracy | April 19, 2005 12:31 AM
I don't think our son generally gets brainfreeze. However, one time when he was quite small, we were sitting in Wendy's with a Frosty, and he started to cry. The counter guy (a middle-aged, heavy-set man with big black glasses, and some kind of hat on his head)came walking by, and said accusingly, "You fed him the Frosty too fast!" It was humbling to be reproved for child care by a fast food staff person.
Posted by: Jschutt | April 19, 2005 10:57 AM
ouch! but if you never got brainfreeze yourself, you'd probably never dream a Frosty could hurt your kid!
Posted by: barbara | April 19, 2005 11:36 AM
