Pattaya Daily News

It consists of a loud noise which generally happens just as you are dropping off or even once you are asleep. It can be like a violent explosion that has gone off in your head just as you are dropping off to sleep, but it is imaginary. It can also happen just as you are waking up during the night.

Although this ‘exploding head syndrome was first reported in 1920 as a snapping of the brain, there has been little information found in medical records about it.

I has been describe in a number of ways, such as a painless loud bang, a clash not unlike that of symbols, an exploding bomb, these are sometimes followed by a painless flash of light, or a twitch of muscles. There has been the odd complaint of a sudden stab of pain in the head, but not with every recorded event.

The cause or causes of exploding head syndrome is not yet known and may occur when a person is stressed or tired out. For some people who have suffered with this problem, they find that over the years its occurrence lessens.

Exploding head syndrome has at times been mistaken for other symptoms of headaches except for the fact that exploding head syndrome is usually painless whereas other head ache syndromes can cause a great deal of pain.

If your problem of exploding head syndrome keeps you from a decent nights’ sleep over a period of time which in turn causes anxiety then you should visit a sleep specialist.

You will need to tell the Doctor when the sounds began, for how long it has been a problem and how long the episode lasts. The Doctor may ask about your medical history, medication that is currently taken and whether or not you have any family members with these symptoms. Your Doctor may ask you to keep a diary of these events for two weeks so he can make a note of your sleep pattern. The data collected will hopefully give the doctor some clues as to the reason and causes of the complaint.

The Doctor may need to do an overnight sleep study (polysomnogram) if your complaint is severe, but other than this, tests are not normally required. The sleep study charts brain waves, heartbeat and breathing whilst you sleep, and records movement of limbs. The results from this study will then be used to study other sleep disorders.

If you find that symptoms of exploding head occur when you are tired and stressed, then try getting more sleep. Perhaps go for a walk before retiring to your bed to relieve some stress, but do not try to relax by drinking alcohol as it is a poor antidote for stress.

Exploding head syndrome is believed to occur more often after the age of 50 although there have been reports of it happening in children and it appears to be more common in women.

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