Key takeaways
- Not getting enough sleep can significantly impair a person’s physical and mental abilities, making everyday tasks more difficult and increasing the risk of accidents.
- The longer a person goes without sleep, the more severe the consequences become, ranging from cognitive decline and mood disturbances to brief periods of unconsciousness.
- Consistent quality sleep is essential for overall health, and establishing good sleep habits can help prevent both short-term discomfort and long-term health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.
Getting enough sleep is important for good physical and mental health. If a person finds that they are unable to regularly get enough sleep, it is best to speak with a doctor to help determine whether there is an underlying cause affecting their ability to sleep.
Read on to learn about how long a person can go without sleep and the effects of sleep deprivation over 72 hours.
This article also looks at the short- and long-term health effects of sleep deprivation, how much sleep a person needs, and how to improve sleep hygiene.
The
Adults should stay awake no longer than 17 hours to meet the CDC’s sleep recommendation.
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. The current world record for a person going without sleep is 453 hours 40 minutes (18 days 21 hours 40 minutes), which Robert McDonald reached in 1986
However, due to the potential dangers of staying awake for multiple days, Guinness World Records no longer monitors this record.
Sleep deprivation occurs when a person gets less sleep than their body needs. The effects of sleep deprivation can vary from person to person.
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,
- obesity
- diabetes
- heart disease
In children, reduced sleep can also lead to:
- reduced academic performance due to problems concentrating
- hyperactivity
- impulsivity
- problems getting along with others
- a higher risk of engaging in dangerous and antisocial behaviors
- problems with physical growth and development
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 2023, there were 633 deaths from crashes related to drowsy driving.
An incredibly rare sleep disorder called
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 around 18 months of a person first experiencing symptoms.
Most people will begin to experience the effects of sleep deprivation after just 24 hours. The
In the U.S., it is illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.08% or above.
The effects of going without sleep for 24 hours can include:
- increased stress
- reduced cognitive function
- increased anxiety
- fatigue
- confusion
- depression
- a higher risk of accidents
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.
Staying awake for 48 hours can also lead to:
- blurred vision
- double vision
- hallucinations
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.
Some effects of staying awake for 72 hours include:
- extreme fatigue
- acute psychotic symptoms
- persistent hallucinations
- delusions
- aggression
- increased anxiety
- increased depression
- dissociation and depersonalization
Key terms explained
Dissociation refers to a disconnection between a person’s sense of self and their own thoughts, feelings, or actions.
While most people experience mild dissociation in the form of daydreaming or similar, some people experience more severe dissociation in response to trauma. For example, if they are in a traumatic traffic accident, they may dissociate the memory. This means that they disconnect from the event to protect themselves from the pain of associating with it.
Dissociating is generally an involuntary response to protect the self. It can mean that the individual is unable to recall some or all of the traumatic event.
Sleep requirements vary by age.
The
| Age group | Recommended amount of sleep per day (hours) |
|---|---|
| 0 to 3 months | 14 to 17 hours |
| 4 to 12 months | 12 to 16 hours (including naps) |
| 1 to 2 years | 11 to 14 hours (including naps) |
| 3 to 5 years | 10 to 13 hours (including naps) |
| 6 to 12 years | 9 to 12 hours |
| 13 to 17 years | 8 to 10 hours |
| 18 to 60 years | 7 or more hours |
| 61 to 64 years | 7 to 9 hours |
| 65 years and older | 7 to 8 hours |
People can improve their sleep hygiene by taking certain actions that can lead to improved sleep quality and daytime alertness.
Some 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, such as 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
- avoiding or limiting daytime naps
Sleep deprivation occurs when a person does not get enough sleep. It is not clear how long a person can go without sleep, but not sleeping for 24 hours can begin to cause problems such as stress, reduced cognitive function, and fatigue.
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 improve sleep quality.
Speak with a healthcare professional for information about how much sleep to aim for per night based on individual circumstances. The healthcare professional can also advise on ways to improve sleep quality and help determine if an underlying health condition is affecting sleep.