Viral ‘six-second sleep therapy’ may cause seizures, death, warn doctors

AN alternative treatment known as the "six-second sleep therapy” is going viral on social media, but medical experts caution that it carries a high risk of death as the method deliberately cuts off oxygen supply to the brain.

Cardiologist Prof Dr Sazzli Shahlan Kasim said his review of the viral videos showed that practitioners achieve this by applying pressure to the carotid arteries at the base of the neck, interrupting blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain.

The director of the Cardiovascular Advancement and Research Excellence (CARE) Institute at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) said this causes cerebral hypoxia, a state in which the brain is deprived of oxygen, which can quickly trigger seizures.

"The patient seen shaking, with their eyes rolling upward before ‘waking up’, is not actually sleeping. They are experiencing a seizure,” he told Bernama.

Dr Sazzli, a former director of Hospital Al-Sultan Abdullah UiTM, added that forceful compression of the carotid arteries can also slow the heart rate significantly and may even cause the heart to stop temporarily.

"This condition is extremely critical, particularly for individuals with undiagnosed or underlying heart disease. While the heart may, in theory, ‘reset’ and the patient regain consciousness, this is highly dangerous.

"If the heart enters a life-threatening arrhythmia and fails to return to a normal rhythm, the patient can die, as resuscitation is not easily achievable. The risk of death may be as high as 50 per cent,” he said.

Addressing claims that the therapy can reduce stress, hypertension, and treat insomnia, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) Faculty of Health Sciences lecturer Associate Prof Dr Aryati Ahmad said there is no scientific evidence to support its effectiveness in treating any condition.

She urged the public to seek treatment only from qualified medical practitioners registered with the Health Ministry.

"Do not be easily misled by treatments that go viral on social media. Always consult credible sources and qualified professionals,” she said.

In response to Bernama's inquiry on the issue, the Health Ministry (MOH) said that "six-second sleep therapy” is not a recognised practice under the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act 2016 (Act 775).

"This practice is unsafe, not supported by scientific evidence, and should be avoided in the interest of public safety. From a clinical and evidence-based standpoint, it does not constitute a legitimate therapeutic intervention or form of healthcare.

"It also violates fundamental principles of medical ethics, including non-maleficence and informed consent, as patients are misled into believing they are being put to ‘sleep’, thereby exploiting public trust in safe and effective care,” the ministry said.

MOH added that the method carries a risk of serious complications, including stroke, carotid artery injury, arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm), cerebral hypoxia and permanent brain damage. - BERNAMA