How Can You Develop Exploding Head Syndrome?
When one hears exploding head syndrome, one
immediately thinks, “Wow, that sounds painful…” In reality, exploding
head syndrome, or EHS, is completely painless, although it can be quite
bothersome.
EHS is a sleep disorder that makes someone hear explosions, gunshots,
and other loud noises. No one else can hear these startling sounds, and
they only appear as one tries to fall asleep or when they wake up.
Exploding head syndrome is categorized as a parasomnia, which is a
medical term for abnormal behavior during sleep. More familiar
conditions, such as talking in your sleep and sleepwalking are two other
examples of parasomnia. Even though EHS is usually painless and doesn’t
have complications, it can mess with one’s sleep and cause or worsen
one’s anxiety.
What causes exploding head syndrome?
In the case of many parasomnias, the cause
is pretty murky and difficult to pinpoint. EHS is no different, and
medical research doesn’t have a clear-cut answer as to what causes
exploding head syndrome.
That being said, any of the following things are known to contribute to
EHS:
Stress and anxiety - researchers observed that people are more
likely to experience EHS when they’re very tired or stressed
A calcium imbalance can make nerve cells become overly active.
An aura before a migraine.
Damage or other problems with the inner ear.
A processing glitch in the brain during the sleep-wake transition.
Micro-seizures in the brain’s sensory neurons in the temporal lobe.
EHS can also be a side effect of SSRI antidepressants or benzodiazepines
(used to treat anxiety).
Who is more likely to suffer from exploding head syndrome?
For a long time, researchers believed the
exploding head syndrome affects primarily older people, especially women
over the age of 50. But more recent research suggests that the
condition is quite common among college students as well. Moreover, a
different study notes that people who suffer from EHS often notice
symptoms in early childhood. All of this suggests that EHS is likely a
lot more common than previously believed.
How does an EHS episode feel? What are the symptoms of the condition?
People who experience this condition say that it feels like “an
explosion in the head.” They report hearing thunder, gunshots, crashes,
or other very loud and bothersome noises. Some individuals see flashing
lights or feel muscle spasms. These episodes are usually very brief, and
they can happen several times a night or once a month - there’s no set
pattern.
Symptoms of EHS include:
A loud sudden sound as you’re trying to fall asleep or right before
you awaken
Noises that no one else hears
Frightening or startling noises in your head that wake you at night
Feeling anxious after the episode - night sweats, a rapid heartbeat,
and trouble breathing immediately after you wake up
Sudden muscle spasms or light flashes
An absence of physical pain during an EHS episode.
Diagnosing exploding head syndrome
Only a doctor or a sleep specialist can
diagnose EHS and direct you toward the best treatment. If EHS prevents
you from getting enough sleep or triggers anxiety attacks, contact your
healthcare provider. During the examination, the clinician may inquire
about your medical history, the medications and supplements you’re
taking, and whether or not anyone else in your family has a sleep
disorder. They will also ask you to describe your episodes in detail.
A sleep specialist may also conduct any of the following tests to rule
out other conditions:
Polysomnogram - a test that measures your heart rate, brain wave,
eye movements, and breathing during sleep
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - a magnetic brain scan
Electroencephalogram (EEG) - a test that measures electrical brain
activity.
A sleep specialist may also advise starting a sleep diary to better
track how often you experience episodes of EHS and what could be
triggering them.
What treatments are available for EHS?
Those who receive a diagnosis of EHS will
be directed to a psychologist or psychiatrist who specializes in sleep
disorders. These trained professionals will be able to treat the sleep
issue through therapy and medications.
If your doctor will be able to pinpoint what causes your episodes, you
can work to prevent those triggers by modifying your habits, namely:
Make sure to get 7-9 hours of sleep if you tend to get more symptoms
when you’re tired.
Meditate, do yoga, practice deep breathing, or take a relaxing bath
before sleep if stress triggers EHS for you.
All in all, exploding head syndrome is a bothersome but relatively
harmless condition. With proper treatment and self-investigation, you’ll
be able to control your triggers, and in many cases, the episodes could
completely vanish over time.