Can You Die From Lack of Sleep? 7 Facts You Need to Know

Going days without sleep will eventually leave the strongest of night owls wondering: “Can you die from lack of sleep?” Everyone experiences sleeplessness at some point. Who hasn’t attempted to pull an all-nighter during slumber parties or in college? Chances are you’ve laid awake at night tossing and turning a handful of times. But when does constant sleeplessness become a serious problem? What kinds of health issues can eventually arise? Here are seven facts you need to know. 1. Can You Die from Lack of Sleep? In short, not sleeping won’t kill you. But the effects of sleep deprivation can deteriorate your health in major ways. Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep per night – but everyone is different. Some adults can function on six hours of sleep, while others may need ten. If you’ve ever felt the need “to catch up on sleep”, there’s a reason for that. Every hour of sleep you lose adds up into something known as “sleep debt”. Until your body catches up on its sleep debt, you’ll feel tired and generally unwell. 2. The Effects of Sleeplessness Are Immediate How long does it take for the effects of sleep deprivation to kick in? It varies for everybody. Some people can go up to twenty hours without sleep and feel fine. Others may begin to feel the effects around the fourteenth or sixteenth hour. Generally speaking, the immediate effects of sleeplessness are the same. You’ll begin to feel groggy. You might have trouble concentrating or remembering things. Your mood will likely a take turn for the worse, as well. Those who’ve gone days without sleep can experience auditory or visual hallucinations. Delirium can also occur. 3. Your Immune System Crashes When You Don’t Sleep Everyone catches the occasional cold or stomach […]

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