Rousing truth behind the myth of ‘Bangungot’

By Ma. Teresa Montemayor, Philippine News Agency

Gervacio also urged the public to be aware of Brugada Syndrome, a potentially fatal but manageable heart condition often mistaken as bangungot. (Pexels Photo)

MANILA – “Bangungot” or nightmare is not the work of evil spirits ending the lives of some Filipinos, as in the Visayan folklore, a heart expert said on Friday.

In an “Usapang Puso sa Puso” episode, electrophysiologist Giselle Gervacio said arrhythmia, or electrical disturbance that causes the heart to beat irregularly or stop altogether, which may cause death among Filipinos while they are sleeping.

Gervacio, who is also the prime investigator of the Philippine Bangungot and Brugada Projects, cited that bangungot affects Filipinos living in Hawaii, the Pacific Islands, and the United States as well.

A 2007 Philippine health survey reported a Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death rate of 43 per 100,000 individuals yearly.

Based on the 2008 population, this translates to over 39,000 deaths each year. More than half of this tally are males aged 15 to 64.

In 2014, Gervacio’s team at the Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), alongside Philippine Heart Association members, started investigating the pancreas of those who died from bangungot. They suspected that the patients had pancreatitis because their pancreas had a pinkish hue.

“Noong inaral ito sa UP College of Medicine under the microscope, wala naming pancreatitis; hence, definitively noong 2014, na-prove na natin na hindi pancreatitis (There was no sign of pancreatitis when it was studied under the microscope at the UP College of Medicine. Hence, definitively, in 2014, it was proven that it’s not pancreatitis,” Gervacio said.

“Nag-lead iyon sa conclusion na baka arrhythmia kasi ‘yung arrhythmia ay abnormal na tibok ng puso na pwedeng nakakamatay kasi masyadong biglaan eh (It led to the conclusion that it could be arrhythmia because it is the abnormal beating of the heart that can cause sudden death),” she added.

She noted that the heart’s electrical system had to be investigated because the majority of those who died while sleeping were healthy and young.

Brugada syndrome 

Gervacio also urged the public to be aware of Brugada Syndrome, a potentially fatal but manageable heart condition often mistaken as bangungot.

In 1992, three Spanish brothers — Pedro, Josep, and Ramon Brugada — formally described it as a genetic heart rhythm disorder that increases the risk of sudden cardiac death.

Gervacio explained that both conditions can lead to sudden cardiac death. Brugada syndrome, unlike bangungot can be detected through a specific pattern in an electrocardiogram (ECG), providing a potential window for life-saving intervention.

“Kung mayroon ka nang warning symptom katulad ng pagb-blackout, o pagkakaroon ng kombulsyon na mabilisan lang, or palpitation, tapos nakitang may ECG pattern ka, ‘yun na ang hudyat para malagyan ng (If you already have warning symptoms like blacking out or brief convulsions, palpitations, and you have ECG patterns, that is the sign for you to have an) implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD),” she said.

“At itong ICD na ito ay lifesaving kasi sa pamamagitan nito, napipick-up kung nagkakaroon ng arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat na delikado sa pasyente, at nagdedeliver ito ng (This ICD is lifesaving because it picks up if you’re having arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat that is dangerous to patients and delivers) lifesaving shock,” she added.

While Brugada syndrome is not caused by lifestyle habits like poor diet or lack of exercise, people can reduce their risk by avoiding high fevers.

Research has shown that elevated body temperatures can trigger dangerous heart rhythms in people with Brugada Syndrome.

“When someone with Brugada gets a fever, the risk of arrhythmia increases significantly. They need to manage their temperature right away,” she said.

She also advised people to be alert for warning signs such as frequent fainting, sudden blackouts, and brief convulsions, which could be mistakenly diagnosed as epilepsy.