How Long Can You Go Without Sleep - Function, Hallucination, More - Vandergreindt, C

5/7/2021 How Long Can You Go Without Sleep?
Function, Hallucination, More
How Long Can You Go Without Sleep?

Function, Hallucination, and More
Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC,
CHT — Written by Carly Vandergriendt — Updated on December 18, 2018
What happens after 24 hours What happens after 36 hours

What happens after 48 hours What happens after 72 hours
Food, water, and sleep deprivation Long-term effects
Healthy sleep duration Takeaway
How long can you go?

The longest recorded time without sleep is approximately 264 hours, or
just over 11 consecutive days. Although it’s unclear exactly how long
humans can survive without sleep, it isn’t long before the effects of sleep
deprivation start to show.
After only three or four nights without sleep, you can start to hallucinate.
Prolonged sleep deprivation can lead to:
cognitive impairments
irritability
delusions
paranoia SUBSCRIBE
psychosis
Although dying from sleep deprivation is extremely rare, it can happen.
Read on to find out how staying awake for a full 24 hours or more can
affect your body, and how much sleep you actually need to function.
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https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sleep/how-long-can-you-go-without-sleep 1/13
5/7/2021 How Long Can You Go Without Sleep? Function, Hallucination, More
What to expect after 24 hours without sleep

Missing 24 hours of sleep isn’t uncommon. You might miss a night of
sleep to work, cram for a test, or take care of a sick child. While it might
be unpleasant to stay up all night, it won’t have a significant impact on
your overall health.
Still, missing a night of sleep does affect you. Studies have compared 24-
hour wakefulness to having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10 percent.
This is above the legal limit to drive in most states.
Some effects of going 24 hours without sleep include:
drowsiness
irritability
impaired decision-making
impaired judgement
altered perception
memory deficits
vision and hearing impairments

decreased hand-eye coordination
increased muscle tension

tremors
increased risk of accidents or near misses

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Symptoms of 24-hour sleep deprivation usually go away once you’ve had

some shut-eye.

Staying awake for just 36 hours can have intense effects on your body.
Your sleep-wake cycle helps regulate the release of certain hormones,

including cortisol, insulin, and human growth hormone. As a result, going
without sleep for an extended period of time can alter several bodily
functions.
This includes your:
appetite
metabolism
temperature
mood
stress level
Some effects of going 36 hours without sleep include:
extreme fatigue
hormonal imbalances
decreased motivation
risky decisions
inflexible reasoning
decreased attention
speech impairments, such as poor word choice and intonation

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After two nights of missed sleep, most people have difficulty staying
awake. They might experience periods of light sleep that can last up to 30
seconds. During these “microsleeps,” the brain is in a sleeplike state.
Microsleeps happen involuntarily. After a microsleep, you might feel
confused or disoriented.
Staying awake for 48 hours also disrupts the immune system.

Inflammatory markers, which help your body prevent and target illnesses,
start to circulate at increased levels. Some research  has shown that
natural killer (NK) cell activity decreases with sleep deprivation. NK cells
respond to immediate threats to your health, such as viruses or bacteria.

After 72 hours without sleep, most people experience an overwhelming
urge to sleep. Many are unable to stay awake on their own.
Going three days without sleep profoundly limits the ability to think,
especially executive functions such as multitasking, remembering details,
and paying attention. This level of sleep deprivation can make it difficult
to see even simple tasks through to completion.
Emotions are also affected. People who have undergone this level of
sleep deprivation may be easily irritated. They may experience a
depressed mood, anxiety, or paranoia. Research has also found that
sleep deprivation makes it more difficult to process others’ emotions. In
one study, participants with 30 hours of sleep deprivation had difficulty
recognizing angry and happy facial expressions.
Finally, several days of sleep deprivation can significantly alter perception.

You might experience hallucinations, which occur when you see 
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something that isn’t there. Illusions are also common. Illusions are a
misinterpretation of something that’s real. An example is seeing a sign

and thinking it’s a person.
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Can food and water intake have any effect on

this?
Sleep deprivation can change both your appetite and the types of foods
you crave. Studies  suggest that sleep deprivation is associated with
both an increased appetite and an increased desire for foods associated
with weight gain. However, consuming empty calories can ultimately
leave you more tired.
Eating well may offset some of the effects of sleep deprivation, but only to
an extent. Since your body is conserving energy, opt for lean, protein-rich
foods, such as nuts and nut butters, cottage cheese, or tofu. Avoid fatty
proteins, such as steak or cheese. These will make you sleepier.
Dehydration can exacerbate the effects of sleep deprivation — such as

grogginess and difficulty concentrating — so it’s also important to drink
plenty of water.
What if sleep deprivation becomes chronic?

Chronic partial sleep deprivation is when you don’t get enough sleep on a
regular basis. It’sA Ddifferent
V E R T I S E M E Nthan
T pulling an all-nighter once in a while. It’s 
also more common  than missing one or two nights of sleep in a row, as
most people are likely to sleep for at least a few hours per night.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that 35
percent  of American adults don’t get enough sleep per night. Chronic
partial sleep deprivation is associated with both short-term health risks
and long-term complications.
Not getting enough sleep over a short period, such as a week, may
cause:
anxiety
unstable mood
drowsiness
forgetfulness
difficulty concentrating
difficulty staying alert

cognitive impairments
decreased performance at work or school
increased risk of illness or injury
In the long term, not getting enough sleep can reduce immune
functioning and increase your risk of certain health conditions. These
include:
high blood pressure
heart disease
stroke
obesity
type 2 diabetes
mental illness
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How much sleep do you really need?

The amount of sleep you need per night varies according to your age  . In
general, newborns and infants need more sleep, and adults need less
sleep.
The CDC  have daily sleep recommendations based on age group:
Age Daily sleep recommendations
newborns 14-17 hours
infants 12-16 hours
toddlers 11-14 hours
preschool-age children 10-13 hours
school-age children 9-12 hours
teens 8-10 hours
adults 7-9 hours
Gender may also play a role in how much sleep you need. Studies  have
found that women tend to sleep slightly longer than men, although the
reasons for this are unclear.
Sleep quality is also important. If you’re concerned about how much sleep
you’re getting, make an appointment with your doctor.
The bottom line

It isn’t clear howAlong humans can truly survive without sleep. But it is
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
clear that extreme symptoms can begin in as little as 36 hours. This
includes a reduced ability to think, poor decision-making, and speech

impairment.
Pulling an all-nighter once every couple of months likely won’t do any

long-term damage. But if they’re happening more often — intentionally or
not — talk to your doctor.
If you’re staying awake out of necessity, your doctor may be able to offer
advice on how to do so in the most health-conscious way. Otherwise,
your doctor can get to the root of your symptoms and help you get your
sleep schedule back on track.
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Last medically reviewed on March 16, 2018
 14 sources
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5/7/2021 How Long Can You Go Without Sleep?

Function, Hallucination, More

How Long Can You Go Without Sleep?

What happens after 24 hours What happens after 36 hours

How long can you go?

Although dying from sleep deprivation is extremely rare, it can happen.

What to expect after 24 hours without sleep

Some effects of going 24 hours without sleep include:

vision and hearing impairments

increased muscle tension

increased risk of accidents or near misses

Symptoms of 24-hour sleep deprivation usually go away once you’ve had

What to expect after 36 hours without sleep

Your sleep-wake cycle helps regulate the release of certain hormones,

This includes your:

Some effects of going 36 hours without sleep include:

speech impairments, such as poor word choice and intonation

What to expect after 48 hours without sleep

Staying awake for 48 hours also disrupts the immune system.

What to expect after 72 hours without sleep

Finally, several days of sleep deprivation can significantly alter perception.

misinterpretation of something that’s real. An example is seeing a sign

Can food and water intake have any effect on

Dehydration can exacerbate the effects of sleep deprivation — such as

What if sleep deprivation becomes chronic?

difficulty staying alert

decreased performance at work or school

increased risk of illness or injury

high blood pressure

How much sleep do you really need?

The CDC  have daily sleep recommendations based on age group:

Age Daily sleep recommendations

newborns 14-17 hours

infants 12-16 hours

toddlers 11-14 hours

preschool-age children 10-13 hours

school-age children 9-12 hours

teens 8-10 hours

adults 7-9 hours

The bottom line

includes a reduced ability to think, poor decision-making, and speech

Pulling an all-nighter once every couple of months likely won’t do any

Try a top-rated app for meditation and sleep

START FREE TRIAL

Last medically reviewed on March 16, 2018

READ THIS NEXT

How Long Can You Live Without Food?

10 Natural Ways to Sleep Better

Getting adequate sleep can help a number of health conditions, including

How Long Can You Live Without Water?

Food and water consumption are essential components to life. So how

10 Tips to Get Your Kids to Sleep

MedCline Pillow Review: Does It Work for Acid

Is Sleeping with Your TV on a Bad Idea?

Beautyrest Black Hybrid Mattress: 2021

The Best Mattresses for Pressure Point Relief

The Best Pillows for People with Migraines

Get our wellness newsletter

Enter your email SIGN UP

Your privacy is important to us

About Us Privacy Policy

Newsletters Privacy Settings

Find an Online Doctor