No sleep for 48 hours

How long can you go without sleep?: Effects of sleep deprivation

Getting enough sleep is vital for both physical and emotional well-being. Sleep deprivation can lead to many short- and long-term health effects.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that adults between the ages of 18 and 60 years get at least 7 hours of sleep a night. However, approximately 35 percent of adults in the United States do not get enough sleep.

Adults should stay awake no longer than 17 hours to meet the CDC’s sleep recommendation. People tend to experience the adverse effects of sleep deprivation within 24 hours.

In this article, we explore how long a person can go without sleep and look at the effects of sleep deprivation over 72 hours.

We also discuss the short- and long-term health effects of sleep deprivation, how much sleep a person needs, and how to improve sleep hygiene.

Share on PinterestMost adults require at least 7 hours of sleep a night.

Sleep requirements vary between people and also depend on a person’s age. For example, infants require about twice as much sleep as adults.

However, the amount of time that a person can survive without sleep remains unclear. According to a 2010 review, the current world record for a person going without sleep is 266 hours, which equates to just over 11 days.

The most famous sleep deprivation experiment took place in 1964 when a Californian high school student named Randy Gardner managed to stay awake for 264 hours.

Toward the end of the 11 days, Gardner grew paranoid and even started hallucinating. However, he reportedly recovered without any long-term physical or psychological effects.

Sleep deprivation occurs when a person gets less sleep than their body needs. The effects of sleep deprivation can vary from person to person.

Children and teenagers need more sleep than adults as their brains and bodies are still developing and growing. As such, the effects of sleep deprivation in children can sometimes be more severe or longer-lasting.

General symptoms of sleep deprivation in adults can include:

fatigue and sleepiness during the day
concentration, alertness, and memory difficulties
reduced coordination
irritability
increased appetite
mood changes

Regular or chronic sleep deprivation can also increase a person’s risk of several health conditions, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Sleep deprivation can be fatal in certain circumstances.

For example, sleep deprivation can increase the risk of dangerous accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2015, U.S. police reported 90,000 motor vehicle crashes that involved sleep-deprived drivers. The NHTSA also state that drowsy driving claimed 795 lives in 2017.

An incredibly rare sleep disorder called fatal familial insomnia (FFI) can also result in death.

FFI is an inherited condition that results from a mutation in the prion protein (PRNP) gene. The mutated gene produces misfolded prions that accumulate in the thalamus, which is the region of the brain that regulates sleep.

The symptoms of FFI typically present in middle adulthood and include:

mild insomnia that gets progressively worse
weight loss
lack of appetite
changes in body temperature
dementia that progresses rapidly

There is currently no cure for FFI, and death usually occurs within 12–18 months of a person first experiencing symptoms.

Share on PinterestA person may experience impaired coordination and memory after 24 hours without sleep.

Most people will begin to experience the effects of sleep deprivation after just 24 hours. The CDC claim that staying awake for at least 24 hours is comparable to having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.10 percent. In the U.S., it is illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.08 percent or above.

The effects of going without sleep for 24 hours can include:

drowsiness
irritability
concentration and memory difficulties
reduced coordination
impaired judgment
short-term memory problems
raised levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline
increased blood sugar levels
a higher risk of accidents
muscle tension

Many of these effects occur because the brain attempts to conserve energy by entering a state that doctors refer to as “local sleep. ” During local sleep, the body temporarily shuts down neurons in some regions of the brain but not others.

People who have entered local sleep may appear fully awake, but their ability to perform complex tasks will significantly decline.

Sleep deprivation also disrupts the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, which affects hormones that regulate:

growth
appetite
metabolism
stress
the immune system

The effects of sleep deprivation intensify the longer a person stays awake. After going without sleep for 48 hours, a person’s cognitive performance will worsen, and they will become very fatigued.

At this point, the brain will start entering brief periods of complete unconsciousness, also known as microsleep. Microsleep occurs involuntarily and can last for several seconds.

After 72 hours without sleep, deprivation symptoms and fatigue will intensify even further. Going for 3 days without sleep will have profound effects on a person’s mood and cognition.

In a 2015 study, two astronauts experienced impaired cognitive functioning, increased heart rate, and a reduction in positive emotions after staying awake for 72 hours.

Some effects of staying awake for 72 hours include:

extreme fatigue
difficulty multitasking
severe concentration and memory issues
paranoia
depressed mood
difficulty communicating with others

Sleep deprivation can have several adverse effects on health that will resolve once a person gets enough sleep.

Short-term effects of sleep deprivation can include:

drowsiness
reduced alertness
decreased concentration
impaired judgment
short-term memory problems
stress
a higher risk of accidents

Share on PinterestExtreme sleep deprivation can cause anxiety and depression.

Chronic sleep deprivation can have lasting effects on a person’s health. These can include an increased risk of:

high blood pressure
obesity
diabetes
heart disease
anxiety or depression

Chronic sleep deprivation can also have significant long-term effects in children, including:

poor academic performance
problems getting along with others
a higher risk of engaging in dangerous and antisocial behaviors
problems with physical growth and development

Sleep requirements vary between people and depending on a person’s age.

The CDC provide the following recommendations for how much sleep people need on average:

Age group	Recommended amount of sleep per day (hours)
0–3 months	14–17
4–12 months	12–16 (including naps)
1–2 years	11–14 (including naps)
3–5 years	10–13 (including naps)
6–12 years	9–12
13–18 years	8–10
18–60 years	7 or more
61–64 years	7–9
65 years and older	7–8

Quality matters as much as quantity when it comes to sleep. Practicing good sleep hygiene can promote higher quality sleep. People can improve their sleep hygiene by taking certain actions that can lead to improved sleep quality and daytime alertness.

Sleep hygiene tips include:

maintaining a consistent sleep schedule by going to sleep and waking up at the same time each day, including at weekends
removing electronic devices, such as smartphones, computers, and televisions, from the bedroom
keeping the bedroom dark and at a comfortable temperature
avoiding stimulants, such as caffeine and nicotine, before bedtime
winding down before going to bed, for example, by having a warm bath, reading a book, or doing relaxation exercises
exercising regularly but avoiding vigorous physical activity just before going to bed
avoiding eating close to bedtime
limiting daytime naps to less than 20 minutes

Sleep deprivation occurs when a person does not get enough sleep. It is not clear how long a person can go without sleep, but in a famous experiment, a person managed to stay awake for 264 hours.

According to the CDC, at least one in three U.S. adults are not getting enough sleep. Missing 1 or 2 hours of sleep may not seem like a big deal, but it can negatively affect a person’s mood, energy levels, and ability to handle complex tasks.

Chronic sleep deprivation can increase a person’s risk of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and diabetes.

Most adults need around 7 hours of sleep each night. Practicing good sleep hygiene can promote a better quality of sleep. Sleep hygiene tips include keeping to a consistent sleep schedule, winding down before bedtime, and avoiding caffeine in the evening.

The 5 Stages and What They Mean

People need sleep to survive. Sleep allows your body to repair itself and perform essential biological functions. Adults need about 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. But sometimes, work and lifestyle factors may disrupt your ability to sleep.

When you get less sleep than needed or no sleep at all, it’s called sleep deprivation.

For most people, a short bout of sleep deprivation isn’t a cause for concern. But frequent or prolonged sleep deprivation can cause serious health issues.

Lack of sleep can lead to poor cognitive function, increased inflammation, and reduced immune function. If sleep deprivation continues, it may increase your risk for chronic disease.

In general, there are five stages of sleep deprivation. The stages are usually divided into 12-hour or 24-hour increments. The symptoms usually get worse the longer you stay awake.

There isn’t a universal timeline for sleep deprivation.

However, the general stages are determined by how many hours of sleep you’ve missed. The symptoms of sleep deprivation tend to get worse in each stage.

Here’s what might happen to your body during sleep deprivation:

Stage 1: After 24 hours

It’s common to miss 24 hours of sleep. It also won’t cause major health problems, but you can expect to feel tired and “off.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 24-hour sleep deprivation is the same as having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10 percent. That’s higher than the limit to legally drive.

Staying awake for 24 hours may cause symptoms like:

drowsiness
irritability
anger
increased risk of stress
decreased alertness
impaired concentration
brain fog
fatigue
tremors
reduced coordination
increased risk of mistakes or accidents

food cravings
puffy eyes
dark undereye circles

Stage 2: After 36 hours

When you miss 36 hours of sleep, your symptoms become more intense. You’ll have an overwhelming urge to sleep.

You may start to have microsleeps, or brief periods of sleep, without realizing it. A microsleep usually lasts up to 30 seconds.

Different parts of your brain will have a hard time communicating with each other. This severely impairs your cognitive performance, causing symptoms like:

impaired memory
difficulty learning new information
behavioral changes
impaired decision-making
difficulty processing social cues
slow reaction time
increased errors

You’re also more likely to experience physical effects like:

increased appetite
increased inflammation
impaired immune function
extreme fatigue

Stage 3: After 48 hours

Missing sleep for 48 hours is known as extreme sleep deprivation. At this point, it’s even harder to stay awake. You’re more likely to have microsleeps.

You might even begin to hallucinate. This occurs when you see, hear, or feel things that aren’t actually there.

Other possible effects include:

depersonalization
anxiety
heightened stress levels
increased irritability
extreme fatigue

Stage 4: Awake for 72 hours

After 3 days of sleep loss, your urge to sleep will get worse. You may experience more frequent, longer microsleeps.

The sleep deprivation will significantly impair your perception. Your hallucinations might become more complex. You may also have:

illusions
delusions
disordered thinking
depersonalization

Stage 5: Awake for 96 hours or more

After 4 days, your perception of reality will be severely distorted. Your urge for sleep will also feel unbearable.

If you miss so much sleep that you’re unable to interpret reality, it’s called sleep deprivation psychosis.

Typically, sleep deprivation psychosis goes away once you get enough sleep.

It’s possible to recover from sleep deprivation by sleeping more.

You can start by going to bed early rather than sleeping in late. It’s also a good idea to get at least 7 to 8 hours of rest each night. This will help your body get back on schedule.

It can take days or weeks to recover from a bout of sleep deprivation. Just 1 hour of sleep loss requires 4 days to recover.

The longer you’ve been awake, the longer it will take to get back on track.

The best treatment depends on how much sleep you’ve missed. Possible options include:

Napping. If you’ve only lost a few hours of sleep, napping could reduce your symptoms. Avoid napping more than 30 minutes, which might disrupt your ability to sleep at night.
Good sleep hygiene. Practicing healthy sleep habits is key to preventing and treating sleep deprivation.
Over-the-counter sleep aids. Over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aids are ideal for the occasional sleepless night. You can develop a tolerance to them, so it’s best to use them sparingly.
Prescription sleeping pills. Your doctor may prescribe sleeping pills. But like OTC sleep aids, they can become less effective over time.
Light therapy. If you have severe insomnia, your doctor might suggest light therapy. This treatment is designed to help reset your body’s internal clock.
Breathing device. If your sleep deprivation is due to sleep apnea, you might be given a device to help you breathe during sleep. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is the most common option.

Healthy sleep hygiene is one of the most effective ways to prevent sleep deprivation. This includes positive lifestyle habits that help you get quality sleep.

Expose yourself to natural light

Natural light exposure helps normalize your body’s production of melatonin, the sleep hormone. This will regulate your body’s internal clock.

Get regular physical activity

Regular exercise will help you feel tired at night. Aim for at least 20 to 30 minutes each day.

Try to work out at least 5 to 6 hours before bedtime. Exercising too late in the day might mess with your ability to sleep at night.

Avoid caffeine later in the day

If you drink caffeinated drinks, have your last cup before noon. It can take 6 hours for caffeine to wear off.

Avoid alcohol before bed

Although alcohol is known to promote sleepiness, it can disrupt the quality of your sleep. Avoid drinking too much alcohol before bedtime.

Avoid electronic screens before bed

It can be tempting to watch a movie or browse social media just before bed. However, the blue light from the screen can stimulate your brain. It also reduces melatonin production.

To avoid these effects, avoid using electronics 30 minutes to 1 hour before bedtime.

Create a calming bedtime routine

A soothing bedtime routine will help your body and mind prepare for sleep. This may include relaxing activities like:

taking a warm bath
stretching
meditating
reading

Have a pleasant sleep environment

You’re more likely to get quality sleep if your bedroom is comfortable and relaxing.

To create an ideal sleep environment:

Turn off electronics, including TVs and smartphones.
Keep the bedroom cool (between 60 to 67°F, or 16 to 19°C).
Use a comfortable mattress and pillow. Want suggestions? Browse our market, filled with editor-trusted and expert-verified pillow and mattress recommendations.
Cover up loud sounds with a fan, humidifier, or white noise machine.

Follow a consistent sleep schedule

Wake up and go to bed at the same time every night, even when you don’t have work. This will help your body maintain a regular schedule.

Avoid foods that disrupt sleep

Some foods take a while to digest. The digestive process can keep you awake, so it’s best to avoid these foods just before bed.

This includes:

heavy meals
fatty or fried foods
spicy meals
acidic foods
carbonated drinks

If you’re too hungry to sleep, choose a light snack like crackers or cereal.

Also, try to eat your last meal several hours before bedtime.

It’s normal to have the occasional sleepless night. But if you still have trouble sleeping after practicing good sleep hygiene, see a doctor.

Seek medical help if you:

have difficulty falling asleep
feel tired after getting enough sleep
wake up several times at night
experience microsleeps
experience frequent fatigue
need to take daily naps

The first stage of sleep deprivation occurs within 24 hours of missed sleep. Most people can tolerate this level of sleep loss.

But as sleep deprivation continues, it becomes increasingly difficult to stay awake. It also impairs your cognitive function and perception of reality.

Fortunately, with proper sleep habits, it’s possible to recover or prevent sleep deprivation. If you still have trouble getting a good night’s rest, visit your doctor.

What will happen to your body if you do not sleep for a day or more

September 25 Health

Fatigue, disorientation, blackouts, and other unpleasant things you don't want to experience.

You can listen to the article. If it's more convenient for you, turn on the podcast.

Only a third of Russians sleep 8 hours a day. This is how much, according to most doctors, an adult should sleep. If you rest less, this inevitably affects your well-being, the ability to concentrate and remember information. And the longer a person remains without sleep, the more changes occur in his body.

How the body reacts to lack of sleep

People experience sleep deprivation differently depending on their age, health status, living conditions and nutrition. For example, children and teenagers need more sleep than adults. Lack of sleep in childhood can cause poor academic performance, problems in communication and socialization, the emergence of bad habits and dangerous relationships, and lag in physical growth and development.

The effect of prolonged wakefulness is generally similar to that of permanent lack of sleep, the difference is only in how quickly it manifests itself.

After one day

Most people begin to feel the effects of lack of sleep after a day of continuous wakefulness.

After 24 hours without sleep

Body temperature drops.
Increases the level of stress hormones: cortisol and adrenaline.
Blood sugar rises (insulin levels decrease).
Muscle tension appears.
The natural cycle of sleep and rest is disrupted, which disrupts the production of hormones that regulate growth, appetite, metabolism and immunity.
Impaired vision and hearing.
Perception of the world begins to change.

The brain is under stress, so it tries to conserve energy and enters a state of "local sleep" - it temporarily turns off part of the neurons. Because of this, drowsiness, irritability appear, concentration, coordination, the ability to reason and make decisions worsen, memory begins to work worse. Increases appetite and cravings for high-calorie foods.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lack of sleep during the day is comparable to drinking 30-60 ml of pure alcohol. This is 0.8 (according to some sources, exactly 1) ppm of alcohol in the blood, which is much higher than the norm allowed in Russia. That is, driving after a day without sleep is just as dangerous as driving drunk.

After two days

After 36 hours without sleep

The effects mentioned above are preserved and enhanced.
Fatigue accumulates.
Speech disorders appear.
Decreased motivation.
The likelihood of making risky decisions increases.
Thinking becomes less flexible.

As Californian psychiatrists have found out, after 30 hours of wakefulness people begin to recognize emotions much worse. Due to the fatigue of the brain, the seemingly simplest operation becomes difficult.

After 48 hours without sleep

Negative effects continue to accumulate.
There are periods of unconsciousness (microsleep).
The person begins to feel confused and disoriented.
Reduced immunity and increased risk of developing viral and inflammatory diseases: influenza, SARS and other infections. This was confirmed by a study by Brazilian immunologists.

The longer a person stays awake, the stronger the negative effects of lack of sleep become. After two days, severe fatigue sets in. This causes the brain to involuntarily enter microsleep—short periods of complete unconsciousness that can last for several seconds.

After three days without sleep and more

After 72 hours without sleep

The negative effects become so strong that a person can no longer stay awake on his own.
Mental disorders may appear: paranoia, psychosis, depression.
Mental faculties are so reduced that even simple tasks are difficult to perform.
The person has memory problems. For example, he may forget what he is doing right in the course of the action.
Perception of the world changes: hallucinations and illusions appear.

Even healthy people find three days of wakefulness difficult. This conclusion was made by Chinese psychologists from the University of Beijing during the experiment. Its participants were in social isolation and did not sleep for 72 hours. As a result, their pulse increased, undesirable effects appeared in the amplitude of heart contractions, and their mood worsened.

An ordinary person who has not slept for three days will experience extreme fatigue, problems with concentration and memory, paranoia, depression. It will become difficult for him to do several things at the same time and communicate with other people.

Most of the listed effects disappear if you get enough sleep. Partially, they can be smoothed out with the help of proper nutrition and plenty of fluids, but this still does not replace proper sleep.

Find out 🌜

10 scientifically proven ways to restore sleep patterns

How many people can live without sleep

No one knows for sure. The most famous wakefulness record holder is Randy Gardner. In the winter of 1963-1964, as part of a school science project, he lasted 264 hours without sleep - more than 11 days - and broke previous records (Albert Shilbert and George Patrick - 90 hours, Peter Tripp - 201 hours, Tom Rounds - 260 hours). Two classmates helped him stay awake, but Stanford University professor William Dement and Colonel John Ross set a record and monitored the student's health.

Randy did not take any chemical stimulants to keep him awake. Although the student was in good physical condition and could beat Dement in pinball during the last days of the experiment, the lack of sleep greatly affected his mental abilities.

On the fourth day, Gardner began to hallucinate: he imagined himself an American football league player and mistook a road sign for a person.

On the last day of the experiment, Randy was unable to consistently subtract seven from the previous figure, starting at 100. He stopped at 65 because he forgot what he was doing.

The results of this experiment were studied by psychiatrists from Arizona. They came to the conclusion that Randy Gardner's brain has adapted to constant wakefulness, alternately turning off and on part of the neurons. After this experiment, the Guinness Book of Records stopped registering such achievements.

Nevertheless, attempts to break Gardner's record continued. So, in 2007, 42-year-old Briton Tony Wright lasted 274 hours without sleep. In order not to pass out, he drank tea, played billiards and kept an online diary, and cameras monitored the purity of the experiment. Wright admitted that he was very tired. During the experiment, his speech sometimes became incomprehensible, and the colors were perceived as very bright. There were other daredevils, but none of the subsequent cases were verified.

Animal experiments might help answer the question of how long a person can live without sleep. However, the last such experiment was carried out by a doctor from Russia, Marina Manaseina, already at the end of the 19th century. She did not let the puppies sleep, and after five days they were dying. This allowed Manaseina to assert that sleep is more important for the body than food. At the same time, she herself admitted that the experiment was difficult for her.

Take care of yourself 😲

Health problems that insomnia can signal

Why not getting enough sleep on a regular basis is also harmful

Not only a long lack of sleep, but also constant lack of sleep leads to negative consequences for the body. For example, when you have 5-6 hours of rest instead of the prescribed 7-8 hours every day. The effect can accumulate and manifest itself in symptoms similar to those that occur with extreme wakefulness:

Fatigue and drowsiness.
Impaired concentration, problems with vigilance, memory and coordination.
Irritability, mood swings.
Increased appetite.
The development of anxiety.
Deterioration of immunity.
Increasing the risk of an accident.
Increased risk of diseases of the cardiovascular system (hypertension, stroke).
Increased chance of stopping breathing during sleep.
Reduced fertility (probability of conceiving a child).

Studies on rats have shown that lack of sleep negatively affects the body's ability to heal wounds and the formation of new brain cells.

When sleep deprivation is used for therapeutic purposes

Deprivation is usually perceived as torture, but in some cases it can be useful. For example, Swiss psychiatrists have studied the effects of total and partial sleep deprivation on the depressive state of patients. Using this measure in combination with others, in particular taking antidepressants, doctors achieved a quick cure in 60% of cases.

Also, oddly enough, sleep deprivation can be used to treat insomnia. A controlled sleep-restriction regimen helps the body return to its normal cycle of activity and rest. When combined with cognitive behavioral therapy, this treatment has proven to be effective.

We all sometimes sacrifice rest for the sake of work, an exam, or an interesting series. But it is important to remember that proper sleep is one of the conditions for our health. Do not experiment on yourself.

How long can you go without sleep?

Adam Hedhazey
BBC Future

4 March 2015

Image copyright Thinkstock

Our body can struggle with sleep for a while, but found out BBC Future , sooner or later, insomnia leads to temporary insanity or even death.

Whatever we waste our time on! By age 78, according to some estimates, the average person spends nine years watching television, four years driving, 92 days in the toilet, and 48 days having sex.

But among all the activities that consume our time, there is an undisputed champion. By the age of 78, a person spends an average of 25 years sleeping. And if you try to at least partially win back these years from Morpheus, then the question arises: how long can a person stay awake, and what are the consequences of prolonged wakefulness?

(Related articles from the "Journal" section)

A healthy individual who tries to find the answer by experimenting on himself will soon realize that the task is not an easy one.

"The need for sleep is so strong that it outweighs the hunger," says Erin Hanlon, associate professor at the Center for Sleep, Metabolism and Health at the University of Chicago in the US. "Your brain will simply fall asleep, despite all the conscious attempts to fight it."

Why do we need sleep?

Why the craving for sleep is so strong, scientists do not know. "The exact role of sleep remains to be seen," says Hanlon. But, according to her, sleep somehow "zeroes" the systems of our body. In addition, research has shown that getting enough sleep on a regular basis helps heal wounds, supports the immune system, metabolism, and so on - which may be why we feel great when we get good sleep.

On the other hand, sleep deprivation has been linked to an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, obesity, depression and other ailments. To avoid them, the body gives us unpleasant signals during sleepless nights: we do not have enough strength, we feel tired, and heavy eyelids themselves fall on red eyes. When we continue to struggle with sleep, our concentration drops and short-term memory works worse.

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Insomnia makes us feel overwhelmed... even coffee doesn't help

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If you ignore these signals and stay awake all day, your mind will eventually give up. There are sharp mood swings, paranoia, a person sees non-existent objects. Truck drivers refer to this state as "seeing a black dog." Their professional wisdom says: if an obsessive black dog appears on the road, you need to urgently stop and rest.

"People start to hallucinate and go a little crazy," says Atul Malhotra, director of sleep medicine at UC San Diego.

The negative impact of insomnia on the body has been noted in many studies. The levels of stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol increase in the blood, and blood pressure rises as a result. At the same time, the heart rhythm is disturbed and interruptions in the work of the immune system begin, says Malhotra. As a result, people who do not get enough sleep become nervous and get sick more often.

But problems brought on by an attack of insomnia or a series of parties usually disappear after a good night's sleep. "If there is harm, it is reversible," said Jerome Siegel, professor at the Center for Sleep Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Be careful, your eyes won't close

What if you don't sleep at all? The unfortunate consequences of staying awake are seen in patients with a rare genetic disorder called fatal familial insomnia.

The genes that cause this disorder are found in about 40 families worldwide. In the nervous system of carriers, due to a genetic defect, proteins are converted into so-called prions, while losing their normal properties. "Prions are irregularly shaped proteins, and they cause a lot of problems for patients," Malhotra explains. Prions clump together in nerve tissue, kill it, and turn the brain into Swiss cheese (the same happens in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, the most famous prion-caused disease). In people with fatal familial insomnia, the greatest damage is done to the thalamus, the deep part of the brain responsible for sleep. So they get insomnia.

The patient suddenly stops sleeping and has strange symptoms such as constricted pupils and increased sweating. After a few weeks, he goes into a permanent drowsy state. The patient walks like a somnambulist and twitches at times, just as people sometimes twitch involuntarily when falling asleep. This is followed by weight loss, insanity, and eventually death.

However, in such cases, insomnia itself is not considered the cause of death - the disease causes serious damage to the brain.

"I don't think sleep deprivation is killing these people," Siegel says. The widespread insomnia torture is also not known to be fatal (although the person subjected to it experiences terrible suffering).

Similar experiments with animal sleep deprivation provide additional evidence that insomnia is not in itself fatal, but the causes that cause it can sometimes kill.

In the 1980s, Alan Rechtshaffen conducted an experiment on rats at the University of Chicago. He placed the rodents on special discs over trays of water. When the rat began to doze (an encephalogram showed this), the disk turned, pushing the rodent towards the water, causing it to wake up.

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Image caption,

A total of 40 families in the world suffer from a genetic disease called fatal familial insomnia

After a month of this treatment, all rats died, although the cause of their death remained unclear. According to Siegel, the most likely cause was the stress of awakening, which the rats experienced about a thousand times a day. It was he who could wear out the systems of their body. Among other symptoms, the rats showed impaired body temperature regulation and weight loss despite an increase in appetite.

"This is the main problem with the study of sleep in humans and animals: a person or animal cannot be deprived of sleep without their voluntary cooperation, without causing serious stress," says Siegel. "If death occurs, then the question remains: what was the cause "Stress or insomnia? It's not easy to tell one from the other."

Do not sleep!

All of the above, in theory, should be enough to discourage any person from experimenting with sleep deprivation. But the question remains: how long can a person stay awake? The most frequently cited record is Randy Gardner of San Diego, set at 1964 year. As a 17-year-old high school student, Gardner conducted this experiment as an extracurricular science project.

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