We watch a lot of movies; action, sci-fi, horror, etc., and at some point or the other in many movies that we’ve watched; we must have come across a human (or alien) head that exploded; maybe from a gunshot or some other means.
Have you ever wondered if there was any condition whatsoever, capable of making the human head explode?
Well, if you ever did have such thoughts then you probably shouldn't be too shocked to realise that there is actually a medical condition known as the ‘Exploding Head Syndrome’.
Strange as it sounds though, medical and scientific studies reveal that the ‘Exploding Head Syndrome’ (EHS) is a not-fully-understood medical condition that afflicts upwards of 15 million people in America.
Strange! Huh?!
Well, please allow me to welcome you to a world where we have virtually not seen it all, just about yet. Lolz
Before you get all panicky and scared to the bones, No! the ‘Exploding Head Syndrome’ is not exactly about your head expanding to the extent where is blows up like a volcano and shatters into a million bloody, brainy and cranial pieces.
Actually the strange EHS syndrome is a psychological disorder or condition that may seem rare, but is much more common than you can possibly imagine.
Psychological and medical experts believe that a mind boggling 10 to 15 percent of people actually suffer from ‘Exploding Head Syndrome (EHS)’. This figure puts the number of people who may possibly suffer from this malady in the United States, to between 35 and 50 million people.
So, what is Exploding Head Syndrome?
The Exploding Head Syndrome (EHS) is characterized by the American Sleep Association as the perception of weird loud noises, like a bomb, bang, explosion or cymbal crash, or gunshot, just as a person falls asleep or begins to awaken.
The EHS sound is observed to last for just a few seconds. However, they are quite jarring, pretty uncomfortable and result in difficulty in sleeping.
Possible shock effect EHS has on the brain
Some people interpret their experience of EHS symptoms as a crescendo of noises that culminate to a point which ends in an explosion of sound and light before gradually simmering down to a phase where it goes away in a fizzle of electrical sound.
Studies have shown that people respond to the rather weird EHS differently, and one major problem with the syndrome is that it is very frightening and disorienting.
Characteristics of the EHS
Despite its strange and scary name, the Exploding Head Syndrome (EHS) is not physically pain-inflicting, instead it is an occurrence where the brain simply perceives a set of frightening sounds that aren’t really there.
People who suffer from EHS may also feel a sudden stab in the head yielding a sharp pain, however most sufferers report of no pain sensation besides the jarring and unnerving effect of the sounds.
The research revealed that females are more likely to suffer from the EHS condition. Statistics further stated that the onset of the Exploding Head Syndrome (EHS) syndrome usually commences after the age of 50 years, among reported sufferers of the syndrome.
Treatment or Medication
As recently as 2014, there still had been no clinical trials conducted to ascertain what treatments are considered safe and effective to combat EHS. Most sufferers of the EHS do not require treatment or medication. Doctors often prescribe anti-depressants that slightly alter brain activity and chemistry for the rare people who suffer and have trouble sleeping due to the strange and loud noises.
Also, it is recommended that people who suffer from the syndrome and for whom medications to alter brain chemistry aren’t suited for, should try out a better sleep hygiene, relaxation exercises, or psychological counseling.
Possible Theories as To the Cause of EHS
The root cause of the EHS syndrome has eluded doctors as they do not know what exactly causes these “explosions” in the heads of sufferers.
Some theory suggests that EHS may originate from small seizures in the temporal lobe of the brain – the part of the brain which is responsible for sound perception.
A different theory insinuates that the EHS disorder may arise from shifts or alterations among the components of the middle ear.
Other theories suggest that EHS may occur due to anxiety, overtiredness and stress. It may also arise due to malfunctions in the abnormal calcium or brain stem cycling in the nervous system.
Current research and studies on the strange syndrome also points to problems relating to how the brain shuts down prior to sleep.
Naturally, our brain normally turns off the senses of hearing and sight during sleep, however, when it comes to cases of EHS, the brain may not turn off those circuits properly.
Another cause of this syndrome may emanate from isolated sleep paralysis, which is a condition whereby for a few minutes, someone would awaken but cannot move.
Research has also shown that the overall rate of EHS among people who experience isolated sleep paralysis is double or triple the ordinary population figure.
In Summary
An unusual theory peddled by some conspiracy theorist is that EHS is actually a part of government experiment.
Although current science and studies faults the theory of government experiments, but the overall scenario and consensus is that EHS is unusual, strange and difficult to explain.
But while researches and studies are still on-going regarding the syndrome, if you are someone experiencing the EHS, you are adviced to try to get some sleep and not worry about your head actually exploding or the syndrome itself.
EHS is actually more annoying than it is realistically harmless. Doctors and psychologists suggest having a good bedtime routine, which involves going to bed as early as possible and getting up at the same time daily.
Doctors also suggest that when EHS is determined to be related to fatigue or stress, then techniques for managing stress such as meditation, yoga or simply taking a hot bath before sleeping, may suffice to deal with the syndrome.
References: Ref 1, Ref 2, Ref 3
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