Why does my husband get really bad brain freeze from cold things? He says it keeps getting worse every time?

Brain freeze can happen because the blood vessels that wrap over the head (NOT IN THE BRAIN) constrict due to the cold in the throat. It causes what is similar to a mini-migraine because the blood flow OUT through those vessels is reduced, and they become temporarily congested. As soon as they relax and the blood flows out, and the pain subsides.

I do not know why this would get worse as he gets older, unless he has tension or stress that exacerbates the condition. Does he have arthritis in his neck? That could be an aggravating factor as well.

The best thing to do, I think, is to SLOW DOWN when eating or drinking cold things. Maybe when eating cold things, take a tepid or warm drink after every 2-3 bites of the cold food.

YOUR HUSBAND SHOULD REST ASSURED that "brain freeze" really is not a "brain" issue at all. He will NOT damage his brain from the cold food. It just FEELS that way. :)

God Bless.

He probably is really just very sensitive to cold things. I only can tell you that the way to get rid of it fast is to tell him to put his thumb up under the roof of his mouth, almost like he's sucking his thumb, but just hold it there for a few minutes. The warmth of his thumb will kill the cold of the brain freeze. I've tried it. It works for me.

Please tell me your joking...it is not your brain freezing. It is a nerve that runs along the roof of your mouth that gets numb from the cold of a drink and as it regains sensation it hurts...like when your foot falls asleep and it hurts when it starts getting blood again, it is the nerves that cause the pain

Well, I think it just makes the back of your throat cold, which makes your brain hurt. I get it alot when I am slurping an Icee. Or sorft serve ice cream. I never get it on regualar ice cream.

Stop eating cold things! I used to put my hand in the fire, and it hurt worse and worse each time, so guess what? I stopped putting my hand in the fire.