The Unsleeping Indian Brave: A Cultural Tale

Me Indian brave, me no sleep for many days is a quote from the 1953 movie Peter Pan. Going without sleep for many days can have several negative effects on the body and mind. After 24 hours without sleep, people may experience impaired decision-making, vision and hearing impairments, decreased hand-eye coordination, and increased risk of accidents. After 36 hours, there can be a decrease in motivation, inflexible reasoning, and speech impairments. At 48 hours, most people experience microsleeps, which are periods of light sleep that can last up to 30 seconds. After 72 hours, or three days, without sleep, most people have an overwhelming urge to sleep and their ability to think and perform executive functions is limited. This level of sleep deprivation can also lead to emotional changes, such as irritability, anxiety, and paranoia.

A man from Rajasthan, India, sleeps for 300 days a year due to a rare disorder

A man from Bhadwa village in Rajasthan, India, sleeps for 300 days a year due to a rare sleep disorder. The 42-year-old man, named Purkharam (or Pukharam), has been dubbed a real-life Kumbhakarna, a mythological character from the Ramayana who slept for six months a year.

Purkharam suffers from a rare sleeping disorder called Axis Hypersomnia, which causes him to sleep for 20 to 25 days at a stretch once he takes a nap. Axis Hypersomnia is a chronic neurological sleep disorder characterised by excessive daytime sleepiness and long sleeping hours, with individuals sleeping for over 9 to 10 hours in a 24-hour period. The disorder is believed to be caused by fluctuations in a brain protein called TNF-alpha.

Purkharam was first diagnosed with this rare condition 23 years ago, and since then, it has significantly impacted his life and well-being. Once he falls asleep, it becomes challenging for him to wake up, and his family members have to take care of his daily needs, including feeding and bathing him.

Due to his condition, Purkharam is only able to operate his small grocery shop in his village for five days a month. Even when he is at work, he often falls asleep. Purkharam's family sought medical help, but a cure for his disease has not yet been found. Over the years, his condition has worsened, with his sleeping periods increasing from 15 hours a day to 20 to 25 days a month.

Despite taking medication and sleeping excessively, Purkharam experiences constant fatigue and has no productivity. He also suffers from severe headaches. Purkharam's wife, Lichmi Devi, and his mother, Kanvari Devi, hope that he will recover and regain a normal life.

Physician Dr Birma Ram Jangid stated that hypersomnia is a rare psychological disorder and emphasised the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

The man with the rare disorder has been nicknamed a real-life Kumbhakarna

Axis Hypersomnia is a chronic neurological sleep disorder that results in excessive daytime sleepiness and long sleeping hours, with people sleeping for over 9-10 hours in a 24-hour period. It is caused by fluctuations in the brain protein TNF-alpha. Pukharam's family members have to carry out everyday tasks for him, such as feeding and bathing, when he is asleep. They also expressed concern about his future and the future of his two granddaughters.

Pukharam's condition has made it difficult for him to run his small grocery shop in his village, as he can only keep it open for five days a month and often falls asleep while at work. He shared that he feels fatigued most of the time and experiences no productivity, along with severe headaches, despite taking medication and sleeping excessively. There is currently no cure for his condition.

Physician Dr Birma Ram Jangid stated that hypersomnia is a rare psychological disorder and that it is possible to treat this condition by diagnosing it early. Pukharam's family remains hopeful that he will recover and be able to live a normal life again.

The disorder, Axis Hypersomnia, causes him to sleep for 20-25 days at a stretch once he takes a nap

The rare sleeping disorder, Axis Hypersomnia, causes the sufferer to sleep for 20-25 days at a stretch once they take a nap. This condition has been likened to that of the mythological character, Kumbhakarna, from the Ramayana, who slept for six months a year.

Purkharam, a 42-year-old man from Bhadwa village in Rajasthan's Nagaur district, has been dubbed the real-life 'Kumbhakarna' by the villagers. He sleeps for 20-25 days a month, or 300 days a year, due to this rare disorder. His condition was diagnosed 23 years ago, and since then, it has significantly impacted his daily life.

Axis Hypersomnia is a chronic neurological sleep disorder that leads to excessive daytime sleepiness and long sleep hours, typically exceeding 9-10 hours in a 24-hour period. This disorder occurs due to fluctuations in the TNF-alpha protein in the brain.

The impact of this disorder on Purkharam's life is profound. He is only able to operate his grocery shop for five days a month and often falls asleep while at work. His family members have to perform daily tasks for him, including feeding and bathing him while he sleeps. They also express concern about his future and that of his two granddaughters.

Purkharam experiences persistent fatigue, reduced productivity, and severe headaches despite excessive sleep and medication. While there is currently no cure for his condition, his family remains hopeful that he will recover and regain a normal life.

The man's family perform everyday chores for him, including feeding and bathing him

Purkharam, a 42-year-old man from Bhadwa village in Rajasthan, India, suffers from a rare sleeping disorder called Axis Hypersomnia. This condition causes him to sleep for 20-25 days at a time once he takes a nap, and it has significantly impacted his life and well-being.

Due to the severity of his condition, Purkharam's family members perform everyday chores for him, including feeding and bathing. They also help run his small grocery shop in the village, which he can only keep open for five days a month due to his frequent and prolonged sleep periods.

Purkharam's family first noticed his unusual sleep patterns about 23 years ago, when he would sleep for 15 hours a day. They sought medical help, but his disease could not be cured. Over the years, his condition worsened, with his sleep periods increasing from days to weeks at a time.

During the brief periods when he is awake, Purkharam experiences constant fatigue, headaches, and a lack of productivity. Despite taking medication and sleeping excessively, his symptoms persist.

Axis Hypersomnia is a chronic neurological sleep disorder characterised by daytime sleepiness and long sleeping hours, typically exceeding 9-10 hours in a 24-hour period. It is believed to be caused by fluctuations in the brain protein TNF-alpha.

While there is currently no cure for Purkharam's condition, his wife, Lichmi Devi, and his mother, Kanvari Devi, remain hopeful that he will recover and regain a normal life. They also worry about the future, especially regarding their son and two granddaughters.

The longest recorded time without sleep is approximately 264 hours, or just over 11 days

The human body's dependence on sleep is well-known. Sleep deprivation can have a range of adverse effects on the body, from impaired decision-making and vision and hearing impairments to increased muscle tension and risk of accidents. While going without sleep for a day may not have a significant impact on overall health, the effects of sleep deprivation start to show very soon.

The longest anyone has ever gone without sleep is approximately 264 hours, or just over 11 days. After just three or four nights without sleep, the body starts to hallucinate. Prolonged sleep deprivation can lead to cognitive impairments and even death, although the latter is extremely rare.

Staying awake for 36 hours can have intense effects on the body. The sleep-wake cycle helps regulate the release of hormones, including cortisol, insulin, and human growth hormone. As a result, going without sleep for an extended period can alter several bodily functions. After 48 hours without sleep, most people experience periods of light sleep, or "microsleeps", which can last up to 30 seconds. These microsleeps happen involuntarily, and the person may feel confused or disoriented upon waking.

After 72 hours without sleep, most people are unable to fight the urge to sleep. This level of sleep deprivation can make it difficult to perform simple tasks and regulate emotions. It can also lead to hallucinations and illusions, which occur when a person sees something that isn't there or misinterprets something that is.

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