Can you die from insomnia? The Question Keeping You Up at Night?

Man with sleeplessness"With insomnia, nothing is real. What is far away. Everything's a copy of a copy of a copy. When you have insomnia, you're never really asleep and you're never really awake."

You will recognize this quote. In the film, a physician assures Edward Norton's character that"nobody has ever died of sleeplessness." However, is that depiction of reality?
What Is Insomnia?

Insomnia is defined as an inability to get the total amount. It's due to difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, or awaking. Insomnia that lasts 2 or a night could be annoying, but usually requires an adjustment to prevent risks or any health issues.

Chronic insomnia is a story that is different. Chronic insomnia occurs when an individual has difficulty achieving adequate amounts of sleep three or more nights weekly for a period of 3 months or longer. It's this sort of insomnia that could pose serious physical and mental health risks.
What Are the Physical and Emotional Effects of Insomnia?

Neuroscientists and evolutionary biologists remain puzzled by the phenomenon of sleep. From an evolutionary standpoint, one would expect a species to evolve beyond not need of it, or at least the need for sleep. Especially during the procedure, the sleeper is vulnerable to threats. Since people sleep away a third of their livesit's obvious that it's a significant part of our makeup and key to survival.

Physically insomnia is related to a weakened immune system, weight reduction, high blood pressure, and inflammation, which may lead to an range of ailments such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Virtually all aspects of our life endures when we do not get enough sleep. Work performance can degrade function can be hindered, and lots of health issues can attest.

"Not getting enough sleep can lead to depression symptoms, irritability, poor concentration, anxiety, and psychological exhaustion. These signs can dissipate with regular and adequate sleep habits. However, prolonged sleep issues and insomnia may result in an increased risk for developing an anxiety or mood disorder," said Andrea Risi, LPC, a certified counselor in Denver.
What's the Verdict?

Virtually all aspects of our life endures when we do not get enough sleep. Work performance can degrade function can be hindered, and lots of health issues can attest.

Researchers have concluded that individuals experiencing insomnia have a higher risk of death, after conducting a study in the University of Arizona. People experiencing insomnia are more likely to die than their counterparts that are sound-sleeping of lung or heart problems. Chronic insomnia may also be a direct cause of death. Evidence indicates that a person with as few as one night of sleep deprivation is as diminished.

Insomnia has been the cause of death in a number of cases. A very rare genetic disease called fatal familial insomnia (FFI) leads to fatigue, dementia, coma, and finally death. People with this condition are not able to sleep and fall into a state between sleeping consciousness and waking. There's absolutely no cure for FFI, and the average life span after onset of symptoms is 18 months.
How Is Insomnia Treated?

Treatment options for individuals experiencing insomnia include physical exercise, behavioral changes, relaxation methods, herbal remedies, over-the-counter or prescription medications, and therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy and phototherapy.

Activity: Daily exercise helps people awaken less during the night fall asleep faster, and sleep for longer amounts of time.
Behavioral changes: Maintaining a regular sleeping schedule, preventing or limiting intake of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, together with the bedroom only for sleep, turning off lights, and removing distractions and noise during sleep time are behavior modifications that can help reduce the incidence of insomnia.
Relaxation techniques: Meditation, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation (contracting and relaxing the muscles in sequence), and guided imagery are powerful methods to calm the body and mind to encourage restful sleep.
Supplements: If relaxation techniques and modification are not enough, there are. These include, but aren't limited to, valerian, chamomile, kava, passionflower, and lavender.
Prescription and OTC drugs: Medication is an alternative for those but it should only be used under a physician's supervision.
Cognitive therapy: Cognitive behavioral therapy promotes using relaxation methods and good sleep hygiene. It may be used to alter schedules and sleep habits as well as the expectations you might have about sleep.
Phototherapy: A phototherapy (light treatment ) session entails sitting close to a special light box for some length of time on a regular basis. Doing this can help regulate circadian rhythms, which could help promote sleeping after or earlier during the night in the morning.

Sleep deprivation can be damaging to the quality of life of the individual, Though sleeplessness is never a cause of death. It may contribute to a range of psychological and physical health issues and injuries. If you're having insomnia that is persistent or if sleep is wreaking havoc on your life, think about finding a therapist or health professional to assist examine your sleep and work toward a much better sleep hygiene regimen with you.

References:

    Davies, M. (November 26, 2014). Dying for more sleep? Chronic insomnia could kill you, scientists warn. Daily Mail UK. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2850461/Dying-sleep-Chronic-insomnia-kill-scientists-warn.html
    Freedman, J., & Duckworth, K. (September 2012). Mental illnesses: Insomnia. National Alliance on Mental Illnesses. Retrieved from http://www2.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=145368
    Horng, E., & Stuart, E. (April 26, 2010). Fatal insomnia: When sleeplessness kills. ABC News. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/MindMoodNews/fatal-insomnia-sleeplessness-kills/story?id=10479079
    Neubauer, D. (2004). Insomnia and psychiatric disorders. Retrieved from http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/480681
    Sleep and mental health. (July 1, 2009). Harvard Health Publications. Retrieved from http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/Sleep-and-mental-health