Experts estimate every person will suffer from a sleep disorder at some point in their life. For most people, this will be insomnia brought on by stress or grief, or disorders associated with shift work. Most common sleep disorders can be cured by lifestyle changers or taking herbal sleeping pills.
However for some people, sleep disorders aren’t that simple. Two rare sleeping disorders – Kleine-Levin Syndrome, and Exploding Head Syndrome, baffle researches, who can’t figure out why these disorders occur, what triggers them, and can offer no cure.
Do you, or anyone you know, suffer from Kleine-Levin Syndrome or Exploding Head Syndrome?
Kleine-Levin Syndrome
People who suffer from Kleine Levin Syndrome (KLS) are often called lazy, but in reality, they suffer from uncontrollable sleeping. KLS sufferers might sleep for days, weeks, months or even years without waking. Very little is known about KLS and what causes it, but KLS normally appears during the teenage years, and most commonly affects males. As well as this excessive need to sleep, a KLS sufferer may become irritated and confused when woken, and during their waking hours may experience hyperphagia (excessive food cravings) and hypersexuality (preoccupation with engaging in sexual activities). Currently, there is no cure for KLS.
Exploding Head Syndrome
Exploding head syndrome is a funny name for a baffling sleep disorder. This unpleasant event occurs just as you’re falling asleep, or occasionally during sleep itself. A sudden loud noise that sounds like an explosion, a gunshot, TV static or cymbals crashing startles you, and the noise comes from inside your head.
The loud noise normally wakes the sufferer, and can result in sleeplessness, agitation, panic and confusion. The noise isn’t painful, but can be quite frightening.
Researchers are baffled by the cause of the noise, but it appears to occur during high periods of stress. Exploding Head Syndrome normally occurs in people over 50, but has been recorded across all ages, even in children as young as 10.
The only way to treat exploding head syndrome is to remove stress. Herbal sleeping pills that relax the body can also be beneficial.
If any of these symptoms sound like something you’ve experienced, see your doctor or sleep specialist immediately.
For more information about sleep problems and insomnia cures you can visit the Sleep and Insomnia Guide