Do you hear a loud noise when you sleep? Leading doctor explains why that happens

Ever felt that you are just about dozing off when you hear a loud thud, only to realise it was nothing? Well, you are not alone. Exploding head syndrome makes people hear loud bangs, crashes or explosions right as they fall asleep or wake up, but there is no real noise or danger. The condition causes people to wake up with fear but it does not result in any physical damage or pain. Research shows that this condition will affect 14% of people who will develop it during their lifetime, and stress and fatigue appear as typical triggers for the condition. Dr Kunal Sood, MD, tells us more...
What exploding head syndrome feels like
People describe this syndrome as hearing sudden massive sounds which include gunshots, doors slamming, fireworks exploding and thunder roaring inside their head. These sounds occur when you transition from being awake to sleeping for a short period, which typically lasts only a few seconds before you become completely alert. The explosion produces three main effects which include 10% of people who experience either bright light flashes or body muscle contractions or body temperature increases.


The real shock comes from the instant fear or panic that follows, with a racing heart, sweating, gasping or feeling like you stopped breathing. The episodes occur either once per night or multiple times throughout the day, while they sometimes remain inactive for extended periods of time before their return. The first occurrence of this symptom causes people to feel confused and scared, because they think it means they have had a stroke or brain damage, but medical tests prove it will not cause any lasting harm.

Who gets it and how common is it
Exploding head syndrome used to be called rare, but newer surveys find it in 3.9% to 14% of adults, including college students, and all ages, not just older women, as once thought. The condition becomes more visible when you rest on your back or when you feel intense fatigue, and extreme stress. Research links this condition to migraines, PTSD, and the discontinuation of antidepressant medications.

The exact reason remains unknown because some people experience multiple episodes of the condition, but others experience only one episode which does not come back. The condition tends to appear within families which suggests it might have genetic components, while it commonly exists together with sleep paralysis and vivid dream experiences.

Why it happens: The brain glitch theory
Doctors attribute exploding head syndrome to brainstem neural activity, which becomes disordered during the sleep-wake transition period. The reticular formation generates abnormal neural activity which causes people to hear typical "electrical pops", as powerful explosive sounds.

The brain experiences three possible explanations for its behavior which include minor ear movements, low calcium levels that activate neurons excessively, and decreased GABA levels which act as calming substances. The body experiences increased stress which damages its ability to control sleep patterns, while fatigue causes the brain to take longer to shut down. EEG recordings show normal brain wave patterns during episodes, because they do not show seizure activity or actual sound patterns.

Is it harmful or linked to bigger problems
The condition produces no discomfort, and it does not harm the brain or body structure although it creates extreme fear in people. The experience brought three major negative effects which included sleep problems because of fear, excessive daytime fatigue and nonstop worrying about what would happen next. More studies need to be conducted to determine how these symptoms relate to migraines.

Doctors perform initial exams to eliminate strokes, tumors and seizures as possible causes, because patients show one-sided weakness and ongoing pain in different body areas. Most cases will resolve themselves over time so people will not experience any lasting harm.
Ways to calm or stop the episodes
Doctors have not yet fully discovered any treatment which can cure this condition, but patients can decrease their symptoms by identifying and avoiding their trigger factors. Focus on steady sleep: aim for 7-9 hours, skip back-sleeping with a pillow wedge, and wind down with no screens an hour before bed. People can reduce their stress levels and shift to sleep more easily through relaxation techniques, which include deep breathing, meditation and progressive muscle relaxation.

Medical professionals use three types of medications at reduced doses to treat the condition, which include nifedipine as a calcium channel blocker, clomipramine as an antidepressant, and topiramate as an anticonvulsant, to treat patients who experience severe disruption from their episodes according to limited research findings. A sleep diary helps you identify patterns which reveal how fatigue and stress affect your body, so you should visit a sleep specialist when frequent episodes prevent you from sleeping.