Chronic Insomnia's Dangerous Side-Effects

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By Christian DeBenedetti

It's official. Today, the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office reported that Michael Jackson died of an overdose of propofol, an anesthetic most often used during major surgery. Why he was using this drug at home is still unanswered, though reports indicate that the pop superstar hadn't properly slept for years, maybe even decades. Is it possible that Jackson's quest for shuteye may have ended his life? The same questions surround Heath Ledger, who died last year of a prescription-drug overdose. At one point, the young actor told The New York Times he was only getting two hours a night. Director Terry Gilliam told Vanity Fair that Ledger was overusing prescription sleep aids in search of rest. "It was a combination of exhaustion, sleeping medication … and perhaps the aftereffects of the flu," said the director, speculating about Ledger's death. "I guess his body just stopped breathing."

Chronic Insomnia's Dangerous Side-Effects | Newsweek Health | Newsweek.com

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