Hallucinations and hearing noises in your head can be very confusing to differentiate. It can be even more problematic if it happens during the sleep. This is why seeing a sleep doctor Damascus MD is crucial to know what you’re dealing. Here is everything you need to know about exploding head syndrome and why it is caused.
Exploding Head Syndrome
Exploding head syndrome is exactly what it sounds like. Exploding head syndrome or EHS is a condition in which you can hear exploding sounds in your head that happens when you’re sleep. This is not just limited to exploding sounds. It can be any and every loud and ringing sound that you might hear over and over in your head.
Along with that, you will feel the pulsing of your head and temples as if the explosion has shaken your brain and body. It can be a very uncomfortable and frustrating thing to deal with because you know that it’s not real, but you can’t seem to block it out.
Exploding head syndrome is also known as episodic cranial sensory shocks. Mostly, the reason why people hear noises in their heads is because something is wrong with their brain or ears, but exploding head syndrome isn’t that. Nothing is wrong with your brain or ears that is causing you to hear all of those loud and banging noises. It is not painful either.
You don’t hear any static or piercing noise in your ear. It is just the loud and very real noise of explosions you hear in your head. Exploding head syndrome is classified as a parasomnia. It is not real; it is just your brain playing tricks on you or is at the brink of a sensory overload. It can occur anytime, either when you’re awake or if you’re sleeping, but it can still be alarming and it won’t be pleasant for you to get interrupted by the bangs in your head.
Causes Of Exploding Head Syndrome
So, now that you know what exploding head syndrome is, you need to know why it is caused in the first place.
Unknown Reason
Unfortunately, like a lot of parasomnias, exploding head syndrome is also caused due to an unknown reason. It is not clear why your brain conjures up these sounds and makes you hear or feel them.
Possible Causes Of EHS
There are some theories as to why exploding head syndrome may occur, but keep in mind that they’re not definitive either and you can or can’t experience EHS if you suffer from any of these things.
Sudden Electrical Activity In The Brain
Firstly, your brain can register sudden electrical activities, so if the nerves are very alert, then the zap of electricity that goes through your brain when transmitting signals can cause you to hear explosions or loud sounds in your head.
Inner Ear Damage
Even though explosive head syndrome isn’t caused by any damage to the ear, there may be some sort of damage or injury in the inner ear that is causing you to hear unusual noises and sounds. But, then again, it hasn’t been proven, so even if you have a certain ear injury or impairment, you might not have exploding head syndrome.
Medications
Some medications and their stopping can also cause a chain reaction of hearing sounds in your head during sleep. If you’re someone who takes antidepressants daily and you suddenly stop them, then you might experience this sensory issue and it can be quite uncomfortable.
Symptoms Of Exploding Head Syndrome
Exploding head syndrome sounds very serious, even though it is not as harmful or dangerous, but hearing unwanted sounds in your head is anything but pleasant. So, if you want to go and visit a sleep clinic Bethesda, then you first need to note your symptoms down and for that, you need to know what you feel when you hear explosions in your head.
Here are some of the most common symptoms of exploding head syndrome.
Loud Sounds During Sleep
The first and most obvious thing you’ll experience is hearing loud sounds while asleep. These sounds might be similar to explosions, gunshots, glass shattering, piercing screams, and even loud bangs. It can be different for different people and there’s no telling what you could hear and why. It just occurs sporadically.
Flashing Of Light
Another very common thing you will experience when going through an episode of EHS is a light flashing in front of your eyes. You will see everything clearly for a second, but as soon as you hear the sounds of explosions, your eyes will get misty and a light flash will cover everything. It will go away after a few seconds, but it is very frustrating nonetheless.
Can’t Sleep After Waking Up Hearing Loud Sounds
You can hear sounds when you’re asleep or while you’re awake. But if you wake up after hearing these sounds, you will be very shaken up and you won’t be able to go back to sleep.
Sweaty After Waking Up
If you wake up after hearing explosions, you will be very sweaty, as if you just ran a marathon. Not to mention, you will also be out of breath.
Erratic Heart Beats
Your heart will be beating very erratically. This ties in with the breathlessness you’re feeling and the anxious and fearful wave that washes over you. It can be highly uncomfortable and uneasy for you to settle down afterwards and it will take a good chunk of time.
Treatment & Management Of Exploding Head Syndrome
Exploding head syndrome is something that you need to discuss with your doctor. It is a sleep issue, but it can also be a general issue in itself, so it is good that you talk to your doctor.
Unfortunately, since there is no cause of EHS, there is no definite treatment available for it either and you have to make do with managing your symptoms and trying to improve your quality of sleep.
Here are some things you can try to diminish the sounds of explosions you hear in your head:
Medications
There are some medications that you can try, including antidepressants, anti-seizure medication and also medicine that slows your heart rate down significantly. This can hell to alleviate any stress or triggers that make the explosion sounds more pronounced, so they can be helpful to some extent.
Determine The Triggers
You need to be transparent about the triggers and what causes the explosions to be more deafening in your head. Does it happen more often when you are stressed or anxious? These are things you want to figure out first and this is important for the doctor to know too, because they can help modify your lifestyle to reduce the triggers and their effects.
Breathing Exercises Before Sleep
Try relaxing and breathing exercises before you go to sleep or are about to do something that might trigger EHS. This will help a lot.
No Alcohol Or Caffeine Before Sleep
Avoid drinking caffeine or alcohol near bedtime. An overstimulated brain will only make EHS worse.
Regular Sleep Routine
Have a good and consistent sleep routine. If you wake up and go to bed a certain time every single day, then you’ll be less stressed.
Conclusion
Exploding head syndrome is a sleep disorder that can make sleeping extremely difficult. Therefore, if you’re hearing loud noises during your sleep or can’t sleep, visit a sleep center Frederick.
