Fatal Insomnia: Days Until Death Without Sleep

Sleep is essential for human health and well-being. While the effects of sleep deprivation can be felt after just one night, it is rare for humans to die directly from a lack of sleep. However, the longer a person goes without sleep, the more their body and mind are affected, increasing the risk of accidents, injuries, and fatal health conditions.

The longest anyone has gone without sleep is 264 hours, or just over 10 days. After this amount of time, the body and mind will experience severe symptoms, including hallucinations and psychosis.

Sleep deprivation and fatal accidents

Sleep deprivation can have fatal consequences. While it may not directly cause death, it can impair judgement and increase the risk of death from a fatal accident.

A lack of sleep can lead to slower reaction times, hallucinations, and poor concentration. These factors can increase the likelihood of accidents, especially when driving or operating heavy machinery. In fact, many bus, train, airplane, and car accidents investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) involve sleep-deprived individuals.

According to a 2017 report, 394 deaths per year in Australia were caused by motor vehicle or workplace injuries linked to inadequate sleep. Similarly, a US study found that 7% of all motor vehicle crashes in the country involve driver drowsiness, with this figure rising to 16% for fatal crashes. Another study, which analysed crashes that occurred between 6 am and 11:59 pm and involved vehicles that were towed from the scene, found that drivers who had slept for less than 7 hours in the past 24 hours had significantly elevated crash rates.

Chronic sleep deprivation can also contribute to an early death by increasing the risk of chronic health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, and mental health issues.

Overall, while sleep deprivation itself may not directly cause death, it significantly increases the risk of fatal accidents and contributes to various health issues that can lead to an early death.

Sleep deprivation and health conditions

Sleep deprivation can have serious consequences for your health. While it is rare to die from a lack of sleep, sleep deprivation can lead to an increased risk of death from fatal accidents. For example, a lack of sleep can cause drowsy driving, which increases the risk of car accidents. Sleep deprivation can also affect your judgement, making you more likely to put yourself in dangerous situations.

In addition to the risk of accidents, sleep deprivation has been linked to various health conditions. These include:

• Heart disease and heart attacks
• Strokes
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• High blood pressure
• Cancer
• Weakened immune system
• Mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder
• Cognitive issues such as memory problems and difficulty concentrating

The effects of sleep deprivation can be felt after just one night of poor sleep. As sleep deprivation continues, the symptoms will worsen and can include hallucinations, paranoia, and even psychosis. Therefore, it is important to prioritize sleep and seek help if you are struggling to get enough rest.

Short-term consequences of sleep loss

• Trouble concentrating
• Slow physical and mental reaction time
• Mood changes
• Slower reaction time
• Higher risk for physical illness
• Worsened mental health symptoms
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Tremors, shakiness, or tense muscles
• Trouble seeing or hearing
• Declining energy and motivation
• Short attention span or inability to pay attention
• Cognitive difficulties, including trouble with reasoning or decision-making
• Intense fatigue and drowsiness
• Trouble speaking clearly or finding the right word

Sleep loss and cognitive function

Sleep is a vital component of a healthy lifestyle. It is a critical aspect of human health that has far-reaching effects on both physical and psychological functioning. Sleep deprivation can have adverse effects on overall behaviour and cognitive performance.

Short-Term Effects of Sleep Loss

After a poor night's sleep, an individual may experience symptoms such as trouble concentrating and slower physical and mental reaction times. After 24 hours of sleep deprivation, an individual's focus and performance are affected to the same degree as having a blood alcohol level of 0.10%, which is over the legal limit for driving in most places.

After 36 hours without sleep, the body, under stress, increases the production of cortisol, the stress hormone. This hormonal imbalance can affect the body's typical reactions and functions, including mood and appetite. The body's oxygen intake also decreases, and individuals may experience declining energy and motivation, a short attention span, and cognitive difficulties.

After 48 hours without sleep, the effects of sleep deprivation usually worsen, and the risk of experiencing a microsleep increases. A microsleep is a brief loss of consciousness that can last anywhere from a few seconds to half a minute.

Long-Term Effects of Sleep Loss

After 72 hours without sleep, individuals may experience extreme exhaustion, changes in mood or problems with emotional regulation, feelings of depression, anxiety, or paranoia, and hallucinations. Eventually, symptoms of psychosis can trigger a disconnect from reality. The risk of having an accident also increases as more microsleeps are experienced.

Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to death, but it is very rare. Extremely uncommon disorders such as fatal familial insomnia or sporadic fatal insomnia can cause a person to die from a lack of sleep by making it physically impossible for them to get enough sleep.

Improving Sleep Quality

For individuals with sleeping problems, improving sleep quality is a practical way to enhance cognitive performance. Getting the recommended amount of uninterrupted sleep allows the brain to recuperate and avoid the negative consequences of poor sleep on diverse aspects of thinking.

Tips for Improving Sleep

• Only use your bedroom for sleep and sex, and perhaps some reading before bed.
• Make your bedroom a sleep-conducive environment by keeping it cool, using layers of blankets, choosing comfortable mattresses and pillows, blocking out light with curtains or blinds, using a fan for white noise, and investing in quality sheets and blankets.
• Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends.
• Exercise regularly, but not too close to bedtime.
• Avoid stimulants like caffeine and intense exercise close to bedtime.
• Limit daytime naps, especially if they interfere with your nighttime sleep.
• Avoid working, using your phone, or watching TV in your bedroom.

While it is rare for an individual to die from a lack of sleep, sleep deprivation can have serious and potentially fatal effects. Sleep is essential for maintaining physical and mental health, and improving sleep quality can have a positive impact on cognitive performance.

Long-term sleep deprivation

Sleep deprivation is a condition that occurs when you don't get enough sleep. While it is unlikely to directly cause death, it can increase the risk of accidents and injuries that can be life-threatening. Sleep deprivation can also have negative effects on your health, such as:

• Slower reaction time
• Higher risk for physical illness
• Worsened mental health symptoms
• Changes in mood, like crankiness or a shorter temper than usual
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Tremors, shakiness, or tense muscles
• Trouble seeing or hearing
• Declining energy and motivation
• Short attention span or inability to pay attention
• Cognitive difficulties, including trouble with reasoning or decision-making
• Intense fatigue and drowsiness
• Trouble speaking clearly or finding the right word
• Hallucinations and psychosis
• Paranoia and anxiety
• Heart disease
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Depression
• High blood pressure
• Stroke

Frequently asked questions