Oct 31, 2021 09:24 PM
(This post was last modified: Oct 31, 2021 09:28 PM by C C.)
https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2021/10/explo...paralysis/
INTRO: There is something undeniably Pythonesque about the phrase exploding head syndrome (EHS) – but it is no joke to many of the people who suffer from it. Given my interest in anomalous experiences, especially those related to ostensibly paranormal experiences, I am often sent first-hand accounts of various sleep-related anomalies such as EHS and sleep paralysis. They make for fascinating, and often chilling, reading. One theme that frequently crops up, however, is the lack of understanding and support that people receive when they approach medical professionals for help and advice.
Unfortunately, to date there has been far too little by way of empirical research to systematically evaluate the best strategies that sufferers should employ to help them to cope with these often distressing conditions. But the problem is worse than that. All too frequently, medical professionals, with the exception of sleep specialists, have never even heard of them and simply dismiss sufferers or, even more disastrously, misdiagnose them and prescribe inappropriate medication. This article is a plea to medical professionals, especially general practitioners, to familiarise themselves with what we do know in order to provide the best advice possible given our current level of understanding. (Readers should feel free to forward this article to any medical friends they may have!)
There is, of course, a good chance that you, dear reader, have never heard of EHS before. I confess that it is only within the last couple of years that I myself became familiar with the term via my friendship with the world’s leading expert on the topic, Dr Brian Sharpless. EHS is characterised by the subjective experience of abrupt, loud sounds just as one is drifting off to sleep or emerging from sleep. The noise doesn’t last long but can be jarring to the sufferer. In itself, the condition is quite benign, but it can cause considerable distress. Most sufferers only have occasional episodes, but it can have clinical consequences when occurring on a more chronic basis.
The sounds heard during episodes of EHS may be explosions (hence the name exploding head syndrome) but they may also be other sounds including roars, beeps, doors slamming, waves crashing, shouting, or the clash of symbols, to name but a few. Furthermore, additional symptoms are commonly reported to occur such as tachycardia (fast heart rate), fear, and muscle jerks, along with less common symptoms such as sweating, seeing a flash of light, breathing difficulties, and a range of other anomalous bodily sensations.
Exact estimates of lifetime prevalence rates are not available but what data there are suggest the condition is not rare, probably affecting around one person in ten in the general population. It is probably associated with stress. Although many sufferers find EHS frightening, only a minority ever seek help from medical professionals, possibly reflecting embarrassment on the part of sufferers at the prospect of describing their odd experiences... (MORE)
INTRO: There is something undeniably Pythonesque about the phrase exploding head syndrome (EHS) – but it is no joke to many of the people who suffer from it. Given my interest in anomalous experiences, especially those related to ostensibly paranormal experiences, I am often sent first-hand accounts of various sleep-related anomalies such as EHS and sleep paralysis. They make for fascinating, and often chilling, reading. One theme that frequently crops up, however, is the lack of understanding and support that people receive when they approach medical professionals for help and advice.
Unfortunately, to date there has been far too little by way of empirical research to systematically evaluate the best strategies that sufferers should employ to help them to cope with these often distressing conditions. But the problem is worse than that. All too frequently, medical professionals, with the exception of sleep specialists, have never even heard of them and simply dismiss sufferers or, even more disastrously, misdiagnose them and prescribe inappropriate medication. This article is a plea to medical professionals, especially general practitioners, to familiarise themselves with what we do know in order to provide the best advice possible given our current level of understanding. (Readers should feel free to forward this article to any medical friends they may have!)
There is, of course, a good chance that you, dear reader, have never heard of EHS before. I confess that it is only within the last couple of years that I myself became familiar with the term via my friendship with the world’s leading expert on the topic, Dr Brian Sharpless. EHS is characterised by the subjective experience of abrupt, loud sounds just as one is drifting off to sleep or emerging from sleep. The noise doesn’t last long but can be jarring to the sufferer. In itself, the condition is quite benign, but it can cause considerable distress. Most sufferers only have occasional episodes, but it can have clinical consequences when occurring on a more chronic basis.
The sounds heard during episodes of EHS may be explosions (hence the name exploding head syndrome) but they may also be other sounds including roars, beeps, doors slamming, waves crashing, shouting, or the clash of symbols, to name but a few. Furthermore, additional symptoms are commonly reported to occur such as tachycardia (fast heart rate), fear, and muscle jerks, along with less common symptoms such as sweating, seeing a flash of light, breathing difficulties, and a range of other anomalous bodily sensations.
Exact estimates of lifetime prevalence rates are not available but what data there are suggest the condition is not rare, probably affecting around one person in ten in the general population. It is probably associated with stress. Although many sufferers find EHS frightening, only a minority ever seek help from medical professionals, possibly reflecting embarrassment on the part of sufferers at the prospect of describing their odd experiences... (MORE)
