Exploding head syndrome (EHS) is an abnormal sensory perception during sleep in which a person experiences unreal noises that are loud and of short duration when falling asleep or waking up. The noise may be frightening, typically occurs only occasionally, and is not a serious health concern. People may also experience a flash of light. Pain is typically absent.The cause is unknown. Potential organic explanations that have been investigated but found to not be a cause include ear problems, temporal lobe seizure, nerve dysfunction, or specific genetic changes. The cause of the phenomenon is psychological in nature. Potential risk factors include psychological stress. It is classified as a sleep disorder or headache disorder. People often go undiagnosed.There is no high quality evidence to support treatment. Reassurance may be sufficient. Clomipramine and calcium channel blockers have been tried. While the frequency of the condition is not well studied, some have estimated that it occurs in about 10% of people. Women are reportedly more commonly affected. The condition was initially described at least as early as 1876. The current name came into use in 1988. Signs and symptoms
Individuals with exploding head syndrome hear or experience loud imagined noises as they are falling asleep or waking up, have a strong, often frightened emotional reaction to the sound, and do not report significant pain; around 10% of people also experience visual disturbances like perceiving visual static, lightning, or flashes of light.
Patients with this condition presenting additionally with hydronephrosis, stage 3 chronic kidney disease, or recurrent urinary tract infection or urosepsis were considered as high risk groups. For these patients catheterization is often mandatory as an immediate short-term management of chronic urinary retention. See also
Bladder sphincter dyssynergia
Overactive bladder

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