A few bites of smoothies can trigger an "ice cream headache"; After exercising, I drank a bottle of ice water and ended up in the emergency room... On August 19th, I had already recovered from the heat, but recovery does not equal heat. Changsha is still experiencing unbearable heat, and cold drinks, ice cream, etc. are still the first choice for people to relieve and cool down. Regarding this, Cao Yan, director and chief physician of the Emergency Department 2 of Mawangdui Branch of Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, reminds that while enjoying the brief coolness brought by ice water, smoothies, ice cream, etc., it is also necessary to pay attention to moderation, appropriateness, timeliness, and suitability, and not to burden health due to excessive cold. A few bites of smoothies trigger an "ice cream headache". Last Sunday, 34 year old Xiao He ordered a large bowl of milk smoothies to relieve heat. Little did he know that just after taking a few bites, his head tightened and his forehead suddenly felt a severe pain that lasted for a few minutes, and he even felt a little nauseous. She quickly went to the hospital for examination, and the doctor told her that it was a cold stimulation headache, commonly known as "ice cream headache", professionally referred to as "pterygopalatine ganglion neuralgia". Cao Yan explained that the so-called "ice cream headache" refers to the stimulation of temperature receptors in the oral mucosa and throat after cold food (ice cream, smoothies, ice cream, chilled drinks, etc.) enters the mouth, transmitting a "cold alarm" to the brain. To cope with this sudden low temperature, intracranial blood vessels will rapidly contract, reducing heat loss. However, this contraction belongs to the body's stress response, and when the brain realizes that the low-temperature stimulation has weakened, blood vessels will rapidly expand again. This rapid process of vasoconstriction dilation stimulates the pain nerve fibers on the vascular wall, ultimately leading to headaches. This type of pain mainly occurs in the middle of the forehead and near the temples, lasting for several tens of seconds or longer, generally not exceeding 2 to 5 minutes. In addition to headaches, some people may also experience nausea, vomiting symptoms, and even short-term high blood pressure. Everyone may experience an "ice cream headache" due to excessive consumption of cold foods and drinks, and the following groups of people are more susceptible: those who consume cold foods and drinks quickly. Regardless of age, people who eat quickly (especially when it's cold) have a higher risk, and swallowing big is more likely to trigger an "ice cream headache" than swallowing slowly. People who eat cold food or drinks in hot environments. When the body is in a high temperature environment and the blood vessels in the head and face are in a dilated state, sudden intake of a large amount of cold food or cold drinks will cause greater stimulation and make it easier to trigger an "ice cream headache". People with underlying cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. For example, people with hypertension, coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, etc., their vascular self-regulation ability is weak, and they are more sensitive to cold stimulation. In addition, people with a history of migraine are more likely to experience "ice cream headaches". People who are sensitive to cold stimuli. Some people have a natural sensitivity to temperature changes, and even relatively mild cold stimuli can trigger an 'ice cream headache'. Patients with temporal arteritis. Patients with temporal arteritis already have vascular inflammation, and their response to cold stimuli may be more severe. Drinking ice water after intense exercise can cause acute myocardial infarction. Drinking ice drinks not only triggers an "ice cream headache", but may also lead to emergency situations such as myocardial infarction. A few days ago, 24-year-old Xiaolin made plans with a few friends to play a hearty basketball game at the community basketball court. Sweating profusely, he drank a bottle of iced beverage in one go. In less than 5 minutes, he suddenly felt chest tightness and pain. Friends who were playing basketball together saw this and quickly called 120 emergency number to take Xiaolin to the hospital. After examination, Xiaolin was diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction. Cao Yan stated that in high temperature environments, the human body's metabolism accelerates, and in order to dissipate heat, more blood circulates to the surface of the body. Moreover, during high temperatures, the pores of the human body remain open, facilitating the discharge of sweat and effectively reducing the body's surface temperature. When open pores suddenly encounter cold stimulation, they will suddenly close, which not only causes peripheral blood vessels to contract, leading to increased blood pressure, but also can cause severe spasm of coronary arteries, plaque rupture, thrombus formation, and blockage of blood vessels. In addition, when the weather is hot and humid, the oxygen content in the air decreases, resulting in insufficient blood and oxygen supply to the heart. If a large amount of cold drinks are consumed, the human body may not be able to adapt immediately, which may lead to sudden constriction of blood vessels in a short period of time when they are cold, increasing the oxygen consumption of organs such as the heart and brain, causing blood pressure fluctuations, and triggering accidents such as angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and stroke. In severe cases, it may endanger life. How to eat "ice" when the scorching heat is unbearable? Pay attention to these aspects of high temperature and scorching heat, and it is inevitable to have some regrets not to eat "ice" at all. In this regard, Cao Yan reminds that when eating cold drinks in hot weather, attention should be paid to these aspects: avoid pouring ice drinks vigorously to avoid stimulating blood vessels and gastrointestinal tract. At high temperatures, the body's blood vessels dilate and dissipate heat. Suddenly, when ice drinks are poured in large mouthfuls, the blood vessels in the mouth, esophagus, and stomach will contract violently. Moreover, the cold liquid flowing directly into the warm stomach can cause strong spasms of smooth muscles, leading to stomach pain, colic, and even diarrhea. It is recommended to drink slowly in small sips, allowing the ice drink to stay in your mouth for a while and heat up before swallowing. Avoid indulging in sweet ice to avoid falling into the high sugar trap. Milk tea, carbonated drinks, fruit juice smoothies, etc., often contain added sugar. Long term excessive intake of high sugar ice drinks may increase the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes and fatty liver. It is recommended to prioritize sugar free or low sugar ice drinks, such as adding ice to pure tea, lemon water, or black coffee. It is also important to carefully check the ingredient list and be cautious of ingredients such as "fruit glucose syrup" and "sucrose". Avoid neglecting hygiene to avoid increasing the risk of bacterial infections. In hot weather, bacterial growth accelerates. If the raw water used to make ice cubes is not boiled, the ice making equipment is not cleaned, or the raw materials are stored improperly, it is extremely easy to breed pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella. Consuming contaminated ice cubes or cold drinks can cause acute gastroenteritis symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever. It is recommended to choose merchants with good hygiene reputation to purchase ice drinks; Homemade ice drinks should be made using cold boiled water (cooled after boiling) and clean utensils to make ice. The opened ingredients should be refrigerated in a timely manner. Avoid eating "ice" recklessly without considering your physical condition. Patients with digestive diseases such as gastritis, gastric ulcers, and irritable bowel syndrome can easily be stimulated by cold drinks, which can induce or worsen symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea; For those with a history of migraine, cold stimulation can easily trigger headaches; Asthma patients, cold stimulation may induce airway spasms; Eating cold drinks during menstruation may worsen menstrual pain in women; Elderly people have weak digestive function, while children have delicate digestive systems and poor tolerance to cold stimuli. Therefore, it is necessary to strictly control the amount of ice drinks consumed; Patients with cardiovascular disease may experience abnormal vasoconstriction and increased burden due to severe cold stimulation. Special groups are advised to eat with caution or avoid ice drinks according to their own situation. Children who eat "ice" need parental supervision, and should eat in small quantities and slowly. Avoid eating "ice" at will when it is not appropriate. After exercising in hot weather, sweating profusely, the core temperature of the body is high, and the pores open to dissipate heat. At this time, pouring ice drinks suddenly can cause cold air to enter directly, which can easily lead to gastrointestinal dysfunction, spasms and pain, and even cause palpitations and discomfort; When fasting, the concentration of stomach acid is high, and the stimulation of cold drinks can cause stronger stomach spasms and discomfort; During periods of cold, fever, and diarrhea, if the body is weak, eating cold drinks can further damage the spleen and stomach yang qi, reduce resistance, and worsen the condition. It is recommended to rest first after exercise, supplement with a small amount of warm water or diluted salt water, electrolyte drinks, and wait for the heart rate to stabilize and no longer sweat before considering drinking a small amount of ice drinks, or eating "ice" half an hour after meals. Avoid drinking ice drinks during illness. (New Society)