A cold headache, scientifically known as sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia, also known as ice-cream headache, ice-pick headache or brain freeze, although the name sounds funny the experience of having one is not. The cold headache is attributed to a very particular headache type in which the headache itself lasts only for a mere couple of seconds. This headache can happen at any point of the head and it literally feels like you are being stabbed with an ice pick. This is a very quick but very traumatising experience. The pains are rapid and pulsating but without any real rhythm. Quick, sharp and intense pains are what make this type of headache known as the ice pick headache.
The cold headache, while it can occur anywhere, usually occurs in the orbital or temple region of the head. It is considered to be a very terrifying experience as well. The reason for this is that it basically creeps up on you, gives you a couple of jabs of intense pain that is strong enough to force you onto the ground in the foetal position and then is gone just as quickly as it appeared.
The cold headache is known as the primary stabbing headache according to the International Headache Society and since it is considered to be a primary headache, there are usually no underlying causes to this type of headache other than the headache itself. Headaches can be classified as primary or secondary in which the secondary is actually caused by another issue such as infection or disease.
The average sufferers of a cold headache are also those that suffer from migraines. In general though, the cold headache will occur by itself at almost any time and will not usually occur while a migraine is happening.
It is hard to treat or prevent a cold headache, as they occur too quickly to treat and then disappear. Furthermore since these headaches occur rarely and are spontaneous, it is hard to actually document one with scientific research.
It is important if you suffer from these, that you should seek the advice of a physician for proper diagnosis as well as possible treatments. In general the only real thing you can do is to try and stay relaxed and breathe as normally as you can until the headache is gone. Also you should attempt to narrow down the possible triggers of this headache as a means of preventing any future attacks.
