What's Exploding Head Syndrome?

Exploding head syndrome (EHS) is a parasomnia

parasomnia
Specialty. Sleep medicine, psychology. Parasomnias are a category of sleep disorders that involve abnormal movements, behaviors, emotions, perceptions, and dreams that occur while falling asleep, sleeping, between sleep stages, or during arousal from sleep.
› wiki › Parasomnia
sleep disorder defined by episodes that typically occur during the transition period between sleep and wakefulness1. These episodes feature imagined sounds or sensations2 that create the perception of a loud explosion and possibly a flash of light, in the sleeper's head.

What causes exploding head syndrome?

It's not known what causes this sensation, but it's believed to occur as your brain is transitioning from wakefulness to sleep. It's thought to be similar to the common phenomenon of jerking awake as you fall asleep. Some people who experience exploding head syndrome have one event in a lifetime.

What are the symptoms of exploding head syndrome?

Exploding head syndrome is a sleep disorder that causes people to hear loud noises when they transition in or out of deep sleep.
...
Symptoms
  • rapid heart rate.
  • headache.
  • sweating.
  • fearfulness, agitation, or anxiety.
  • difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
  • daytime fatigue.
  • mild memory impairment.
David Miller

David Miller

Executive Financial & Market Analyst

David Miller brings 15 years of experience in global economics, personal finance strategy, and market dynamics. He specializes in turning complex economic trends into actionable insights for everyday readers.