KOMPAS.com - There have been many accidents and health problems occur because of sleep disorders. Research on laboratory rats which constantly forced to wake up eventually die within two weeks. However, did not sleep in humans also lead to death?
According to medical records, the longest human survive without sleep is 11 days. That is evidenced by Randy Gardner, teens 17 years in 1967 and hold up for 11 days for a dance competence. During the not sleeping he did not suffer pain and was still able to follow the competition. Finished the competition, he then slept for 14 hours and recovered his strength as usual.
However, this example is a form of lack of sleep, which is very different from insomnia. "It is not unusual when someone can not sleep for several days because of insomnia," said Dr. Michael Thorpy of the Sleep-Wake Disorder Center, USA.
There is a very rare case of insomnia, which is caused by genetic factors, that is fatal familial insomnia (FFI). The interference experienced only 40 families worldwide.
Due to the FFI, a person will suffer from panic attacks, hallucinations, reduced body weight, demenisa, and sometimes death. Sleep disorder causes decreased nerve function in the brain. FFI usually occurs in middle-aged man and ended with the deaths in that period of time one or two years.
Thorpy explained, in most people, chronic insomnia is not directly cause death. However, lack of sleep can trigger serious health problems that increase the risk of death.
"Sleeping less than seven hours per day are associated with reduced cognitive function, especially loss of concentration, impaired memory, and koornidasi hands and eyes," said Thorpy.
Research also shows people who suffer from insomnia at higher risk of depression and anxiety. Insomnia is also associated with the risk of heart disease and hypertension, obesity, diabetes, breast cancer, and headaches. That is why, people who suffer from insomnia shall enjoy the treatment the doctor.
