A Scary-Sounding Sleep Disorder: Exploding Head Syndrome

[William Seger]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-michael-j-breus/exploding-head-syndrome_b_5535329.html

Exploding head syndrome may sound like something out of a science fiction movie, but in fact it's a very real sleep disorder. People with this sleep phenomenon are prone to experiencing loud and sudden noises as they transition in and out of sleep.

Researchers at Washington State University recently published a review of existing literature on exploding head syndrome, a first step toward raising awareness and better understanding this little-known sleep phenomenon. Their analysis of the syndrome reveals a range of symptoms reported by patients:

• Noises are loud and jarring, resembling the popping sounds of firecrackers or gunshots, the slamming sound of a door closing violently, or the boom of an explosion.
• These sounds may be perceived in one or both ears.
• Sometimes the sounds of explosive head syndrome are accompanied by flashes of light.
• In some cases, people will experience mild pain in addition to the noise disruption.
• Women appear to be more likely than men to suffer from this sleep disorder.

[Tetris_Iguana]

1. Sounds terrible.

The human mind is certainly interesting.

[Scuba]

2. I'll be damned. I've been blaming the dog for farting.

[Renew Deal]

3. Aliens

[Hoyt]

4. I've had those zaps, especially falling asleep. You get used to them.

I'm sure they are talking about people that have them often.

[catrose]

5. So THAT's what it is

All. My. Life.

For many years, I thought it was gun shots/door slams/firecrackers. Then I thought I was dreaming about them. I wonder if it's associated with sleep apnea.

[William Seger]

7. I've experienced "hypnic jerks" several times

... which would be a great name for a punk band, but it's a full-body twitch while falling asleep. This article says up 70% of the population experience it.

http://scienceblogs.com/purepedantry/2007/12/13/why-do-i-sometimes-feel-like-i/

I always thought was because something in a dream had startled me, sometimes falling, but it may be related to "exploding head syndrome."


(Edit: Aw, that name is already taken.:

[Warpy]

12. I knew it was in my head by where and when it would happen

and the soundly sleeping cats were another indication. Since it only happened when I was first dropping off, like the myoclonus did, I just chalked it up to another weird brain trick and ignored it as much as possible.

I found it happens more often when I'm overtired.

[kickysnana]

13. Me too. n/t

[defacto7]

16. Add me to the list.

Been there, done that.

[Uben]

6. Probable cause....

....internal farting!

[William Seger]

8. "Scientists find that brain farts are real" (n/t)

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. Actually had that happen occasionally.

More often as I get older, just as I am dropping off for the night.
The puzzling thing has been that the dog has not reacted to what I thought was a loud external noise.

[Hoyt]

11. Me too. I hear a zap, go what was that, then notice my cat hasn't moved.

My cat usually reacts to any noise, no matter how low. So I go back to sleep.

[frogmarch]

10. I have it.

Both ears. Gold and/or blue light flashes. Top of my head pain and facial paralysis that lasts a second or two.

Exploding head syndrome? hahaha! Nice name. I like.

[Cirque du So-What]

14. I've experienced that a few times in my life

but it's very infrequent and I cannot determine if the episodes have any common factors. I've also experienced a 'jolt' as I fall asleep occasionally. One instance was quite embarrassing. My coworkers and I were working a long stretch of 12-hour shifts and I was getting quite sleep-deprived. Several of us were in the shop on break in the wee hours of the morning and I was sitting on a 'barstool' sipping a cup of coffee. I drifted off for a few seconds and experienced the 'jolt.' I pitched the coffee from my cup right into the lap of a coworker who was in a chair right in front of me. It took a good bit of explanation to convince everyone that I hadn't done it deliberately.

[NutmegYankee]

15. I hate the falling feeling.

I've had that one happen a few times.

[hobbit709]

17. I've got bone spurs in my neck.

sometimes when I turn my head fast it sounds like someone snapped a pencil in half inside my skull.

[Thor_MN]

18. Has been happening recently to me, but pretty sure it's my idiot neghbors

This year's arsenal of fireworks has been unusually powerful. Went for a walk on the night of the 4th and had explosions and echos of them off buildings to every direction. It usual sounds like pitched battles around here, but the echoing off buildings is new.