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Sudden jolts in bed 'no problem, unless headache starts'
Author: Jonathan Warren
Many of us experience the feeling of a sudden start after drifting off to sleep, only to wake up as a result. Dr Lisa Shives, the founder of Northshore Sleep Medicine, explained to CNN Health that this is known as a hypnic jerk, which is not a big issue at all.
However, she did note that there was a similar condition where people awaken suddenly because of hearing a loud noise in their head. Many have described it to her, and the rest of the medical community, as a loud bang or explosion. This phenomenon - called exploding head syndrome - is not benign like hypnic jerks.
However, hypnic jerks can be accompanied by sound, which is both disturbing to experience and often leads to people thinking they are having a stroke.
Dr Shives asserted that if this happens to you, it is wise to seek medical attention, especially if it is associated with a headache. "If the headache is severe and persists, then indeed haemorrhagic stroke is a possibility and emergency services should be sought," she added.
