11 Responses to “Pagophagia”

1. Mary
   February 1st, 2008 @

   I always thought there were more people annoyed with ice chewing.

2. Josh Friedlander
   February 2nd, 2008 @

   I thought ice chewing was supposed to indicate sexual frustration.

3. Ripa
   July 7th, 2008 @

   Hi! I was just passing by your article! And i would lyk to answer your question for you, but to understand the answer itself you have to experience it yourself!

   Ice chewing is definately lyk having a snack, you see i’m addicted to crisps and its the same thing with ice. I really dont know why its so addictive, and i’m hoping you might know the answer! lol I have to admit i think i’m beginning to suffer from this disease ‘pagophagia’, it sounds crazy because i never thought it was serious at all! Do you know the effects of this disease?

4. Matt Cipriano
   July 9th, 2008 @

   Hi Ripa,
   Pagophagia is thought to possibly be a form of Pica, an eating disorder that compels people to eat non-nutritive substances (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pica_%28disorder%29). One of the causes may be related to anemia or an iron deficiency.

   Other then that brief bit of info, you might want to contact your physician to discuss this more in depth with a professional.

5. Dr. Bryan
   March 27th, 2009 @

   I have heard my entire life that somebody “thought ice chewing was an indicator of sexual frustration” This is just a complete myth and absolutely ridiculous. The original Austrian psychiatrist who said that ice chewing had to deal with sexual frustration, was, in my professional and humble opinion, an idiot. And a coke addict.

   Chewing ice is simply a medical condition called pagophagia. Those who are anemic probably suffer from this, although there are other causes, some which do not have a medical explanation.

6. Kevin amstrong
   January 20th, 2010 @

   Hi i love you

7. bernie
   February 23rd, 2011 @

   i love chewing ice, i love crunchy ice, i though it wasn’t anything wrong with eating ice because ice is water right, eating ice should not be class with pica, ice is not harmful to the body. i can go without eating ice for weeks, i have practice this, i don’t feel i am addicted to ice, i feel i just choose to eat it.

8. Traci
   June 6th, 2011 @

   Ice chewing is a serious compulsion for me, to the point that I can “smell” it and “taste” it even when I 1st wake up in the morning, and once I start crunching away, I literally cannot stop until my cup is empty. Even if there is something that needs my attention. In my case, it is directly related to my iron deficiancy anemia. Whether I go through a blood transfusion or IV iron infusions, as soon as my hemoglobin is up in the normal ranger, I lose the complusion altogether and won’t chew a single piece of ice. I can guage just how low my iron is, by how strong the compulsion is…right now, it’s down around 8 and I can’t tear myself away from my ice.

9. Jenna
   June 21st, 2011 @

   This is interesting – just lately I have LOVED chewing on ice!! I figure, hey, it’s WATER so it can’t be unhealthy. Then my boss (a REALLY pompous ass) lectured me on how eating ice destroys acid in stomach and makes people get osteoperosis. So anyway, it looks like that’s not true (not surprising – he is SOOOO weird) but I just fail to see how it can be a problem.

   I’ll tell you why I like eating ice – it’s the cold feeling it gives me in my throat, right between the back of my tongue before it slides down my throat – that part of my throat always feels dry and I LOVE the cold cool ice right there! (okay, that may sound like a sexually frustrated person, but truly, that’s NOT a problem haha)

10. Karren
    August 26th, 2011 @

    Hello, Im a classic example of a pican. I have been iron deficient for years without knowing it. All my life I liked chewing the ice at the bottom of my glass and a few extra cubes and chips too. The last 5 years has been a roller coaster of eating, crunching and searching for perfect Ice. I eat 10 lbs or so a day now, although Im working on my iron problem through bringing an end to my heavy menstral bleeding with (surgery 3 weeks ago). I go to my favorite ice store 3 or 4 times a day and fill a 64 oz and two 44oz cups. This is the normal and not the extreme. 3 years ago I was in a living situation that didnt allow regular runs to the ice store (mini mart) so I had a store of fresh SNOW that I cultivated and ate from. luckily I live in the cascade mountains in the country where I deemed it “clean” enough to eat and eat I did. Im looking forward to stopping this when my iron goes up! My hemaglobin was 8 with a ferratin of 4 before my surgery. My aneamia has stollen 5 years of my life. I am a 50 year old single Mom and dont date or work a normal job because of it. My memory and thinking is foggyer, I have restless leggs and body every night and dont sleep much. I am embarrased by my constant crunching and inability to hold still at night. If you have pagophagia and havent been to the doctor go…it can actually ruin your life!

11. lexie
    September 1st, 2011 @

    i eat ice all the time too, ever since i was little i have. i have heard it has to do with iron defficincies (but im pretty sure your doctor would know by a certain age is you have a iron deficiancy and you would take medication or somethin), stress, or emotional problems.

    i dont eat ice for any of those reasons, i eat it because i like the taste (even tho there isnt really that much of a taste), and i love to snack so ice being water has no calories so i can snack on it alllll i want, yummy

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