Ever wake up suddenly to the sound of an explosion that never happened?
If you have, you’re not alone. It’s called exploding head syndrome. It’s a rare sleep disorder, characterized by nighttime hallucinations.
So, how does it work?
When the brain is supposed to be slowing down while you fall asleep, something happens and the brainwaves don’t slow down.
This causes those who have the disorder to hear sounds that seem to originate from inside their heads. The loud noise can sound like a bomb, a gunshot or any other loud explosion. It is not painful.
Exploding head syndrome hasn’t been fully researched, but some theories as to why this phenomenon happens are: minor temporal lobe seizures in the brain (don’t worry: most scientists have ruled this one out), a sudden shift of middle ear components or other ear dysfunction, rapid withdrawal from drugs, or a brainstem neuronal dysfunction.
The brainstem neuronal dysfunction is the most popular theory among scientists because the brainstem reticular formation is what regulates transitions between sleeping and being awake.
Sleep experts believe that those who are more sleep deprived are more likely to have exploding head, which means women are at a higher risk than men.
Is it treatable?
In general, the sleep disorder does not require treatment. It can, however, be mistaken for another condition such as a headache, another sleep disorder, or PTSD.
See your doctor if you believe you may be experiencing one of these disorders.
If you or a loved one has exploding head syndrome, try to keep a regular sleep schedule, nix the naps, and try a morning workout to help with the symptoms.
