Exploding Head Syndrome

Hey, sleep warriors.

Exploding Head Syndrome exploding head syndrome is a type of sleep disorder in which you hear a loud noise or an explosive crashing sound in your head as you're trying to fall asleep. The sound isn't heard by anyone else, and it typically lasts less than a second.

Fortunately, it isn't dangerous, but it certainly can be alarming. The episode typically happens suddenly, either when you're beginning to fall asleep at night or when you're falling back to sleep after awakening during the night.

Now, it isn't clear what causes this abrupt sound, but it has been associated with sleep deprivation, stress, and some substances, such as too much alcohol.

Here are my top three tips for dealing with an exploding head.

• Number one, be sure that you're getting enough sleep at night. This is an average of 7 hours for most adults.
• Number two, put away electronics and engage in relaxing activities before bed. This could be gentle stretching, deep breathing, or reading under a dim light.
• Number three, if you do experience a regular exploding head, keep a calendar of when the events occur. This will allow you to identify any triggers, and you can share it with your doctor to better quantify the frequency.

Fortunately, an exploding head is not dangerous, and it typically doesn't require any specific tests or treatments. That's your spooky sleep bite for this week.

I'll see you next time.