Are you the kind of person who runs on a few hours of sleep each night? While you might think this is okay for your body, the reality is that it could be doing more harm than you realize. Quality rest is essential for good overall health and well-being. Keep reading to learn how long you can go without sleep and why you should prioritize regular bedtimes.
What Happens When You Go Without Sleep?
Sleep deprivation is a real thing, and it affects millions of people every day in the United States. Failing to seek treatment for this problem can have devastating results. Let’s take a look at what researchers say happens over time:
- No Sleep for 24 Hours: You will likely develop a headache, experience fatigue, have a slower reaction time, become nervous, and have mood swings.
- No Sleep for 48 Hours: The fatigue significantly worsens, making it difficult to stay awake. You’ll feel weak and tired.
- No Sleep for 72 Hours: At this stage, you may become paranoid or anxious, and you may experience hallucinations as well as sleep deprivation psychosis.
- No Sleep for 96 Hours: It is unlikely you will be able to stay awake at this point. However, if you do, you will likely begin to ramble, have irregular body movements, exhibit irrational behavior, or become catatonic.
What Are the Dangers of Staying Awake?
Attempting to stay awake for a prolonged period can have devastating consequences. Although it may seem harmless, especially if you stay up a full 24 hours, the reality is that you can injure yourself or someone else by driving while drowsy.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that sleep deprivation is the reason for 300,000 crashes and 6,400 traffic-related deaths every year. You may also suffer workplace injury, especially if you have a labor-intensive job.
Sleep deprivation also creates problems throughout your body, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and a lower immune response.
How Can You Get More Sleep?
If you want to make sure that you are getting the standard 8 to 9 hours of sleep every night, you’ll need to make some lifestyle changes, including:
- Maintaining a sleep schedule
- Creating a routine to wind down each night
- Avoiding caffeine before bedtime
- Creating a sleep-positive space (i.e., blackout curtains, cool temperatures, quiet, etc.)
- Turning off all screens at least one hour before going to bed
Prioritizing your nightly sleep will only improve your overall health, so the next time you think about pulling an all-nighter with friends, think again.
About the Practice
Do you need help establishing a bedtime routine? Do you stay up late frequently, only running on a few hours of sleep each night? If so, our experts at Star Sleep & Wellness in Dallas are here to help. Contact us to learn what we can do to help you finally get the rest you need to function each day.