What is an exploding head syndrome?

Exploding head syndrome is an unusual and relatively rare condition that is often described as parasomnia. Parasomnia is any occurrence that disrupts sleep and may include things like sleeping, myoclonal jerk or night horrors. Although some cases of exploding head syndrome have been described when a person is awake, most often this unusual circumstance occurs the same when people are driving to sleep. What follows is a loud bang, an accident, a ring or an explosion noise that appears to occur in the head, which usually leads to complete vigilance, potentially upset and some panic. Some have described that with the explosion they see flashes of light, and as already mentioned, several of them experienced these symptoms during the day. Although this parasomnia is relatively rare, the medical community has some information about it.

First, predicting the speed at which the "explosion" occurs is not easy. Some people often have them, up to several times a week, and others experience less than once a month.The syndrome may also disappear for a long time or forever without treatment. Medical scientists also indicate that women are more than twice as likely than men to obtain exploding head syndrome and that the average age of start is at the end of the 50th year. There is no fixed connection between conditions such as migraines and exploding head syndrome, although several people who reported syndrome have both.

There is a dispute over how to treat an exploding head syndrome. If the condition does not disturb sleep or creates a significant alarm for the affected person, no treatment can be required. Those interested in rapid disappearance of symptoms could find help with drug clomipramine. This medicine is an antidepressant tricyclic class that is used to treat various disorders, including night enuresis and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Some studies suggest that clomipramine may be successful at ending symptoms.

Although research this syndrome has so far pointed out that it is annoying but beNignous, still recommends that every suspicion of an exploding head syndrome to see a doctor. Doctors can recommend sleeping or visit a neurologist for more specialized care and provide patients with the best approach to advice and treatment. The diagnosis should be particularly confirmed if the symptoms are atypical because it may point to other conditions instead.