Can Humans Sleep For 72 Hours Straight?

Sleep is an essential bodily function, and not getting enough can have serious consequences for our health. But is it possible to sleep for too long? Sleeping for 3 days straight is possible, and it is often used as a plot device in movies, but it is not recommended. Oversleeping can be a symptom of underlying conditions, such as depression, illness, or a sleep disorder, and it has been linked to a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart failure. After just 24 hours of no sleep, individuals experience increased stress hormones, impaired coordination, memory, and judgment, and a reduced reaction time. As sleep deprivation continues, the side effects become more severe, and by 48 hours, individuals may experience microsleeps, brief moments of rest where the brain switches off. By 72 hours, individuals are at risk of major cognitive deficits, hallucinations, and even paranoia. While it may be tempting to sleep the weekend away, sticking to a consistent sleep schedule is the best way to maintain your health and regulate your body's internal clock.

Is it possible to sleep for 3 days straight without medical intervention?

It is generally agreed that after 24 hours without sleep, the signs of sleep deprivation become increasingly evident. After 36 hours, a person will have an overwhelming urge to sleep, and after 48 hours, this is known as extreme sleep deprivation. At this point, it will be even harder to stay awake, and a person is likely to experience microsleeps and hallucinations.

After 72 hours without sleep, a person's urge to sleep will strengthen and possibly become uncontrollable, with more frequent and longer microsleeps. Their perception will be significantly impaired, and their hallucinations might become more complex.

Therefore, while it is unclear exactly how long a person can survive without sleep, it seems very unlikely that a person could sleep for three days straight without medical intervention. Indeed, the current world record for the longest time without sleep is just over 11 days, and this was achieved by a Californian high school student in 1964.

However, there are anecdotal reports of people sleeping for long periods after periods of exhaustion. For example, one person on Reddit reported sleeping for 32-36 hours after a period of exhaustion from studying and working two jobs. Another person on the same thread reported sleeping for 48 hours after recovering from a severe injury.

What are the physical and mental effects of sleep deprivation?

Sleep deprivation can have a wide range of physical and mental effects, and can even be life-threatening in extreme cases.

Physical Effects

• Heart and circulatory systems: Sleep deprivation has long-term damaging effects on heart and circulatory health. People with chronic sleep deprivation are more likely to develop high blood pressure (hypertension) and high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia).
• Metabolic systems: People with chronic sleep deprivation are at a much higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
• Immune system: Sleep helps regulate immune function and inflammation. A lack of sleep can leave your body vulnerable to infections and reduce its ability to fight off germs.
• Nervous system: Sleep-deprived people commonly experience higher pain sensitivity.

Mental Effects

• Brain: Sleep is vital for memory, learning, and emotional regulation. Sleep deprivation can lead to cognitive decline and dementia, and may even cause brain damage.
• Mental health: Sleep deprivation can cause symptoms of depression and anxiety, and is linked to the development of mental health disorders.
• Behaviour: Sleep deprivation can cause impulsive or reckless behaviour, and in children, it can lead to misbehaviour and poor school performance.

What are the causes of oversleeping?

Oversleeping, or long sleeping, is defined as sleeping for more than nine hours in a 24-hour period. It can be caused by various factors, including:

• Sleep debt: This occurs when you don't get enough sleep at night and try to make up for it by sleeping longer than usual during the day or on the weekends. This is often the result of staying up late to complete work or other activities.
• Sleep disorders: Certain sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, insomnia, and narcolepsy, can cause oversleeping. Sleep apnea, for example, involves temporary breathing interruptions during sleep, leading to non-restorative sleep and daytime sleepiness.
• Depression and anxiety: Mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety are often associated with sleep disorders or other health issues that can lead to oversleeping.
• Obesity: Obesity has been linked to oversleeping and can increase the risk of other health issues.
• Cardiovascular disease: Cardiovascular disease can disrupt sleep patterns and contribute to oversleeping.
• Chronic pain: Conditions that cause chronic pain can make it difficult to get restful sleep at night, leading to oversleeping.
• Medications: Certain medications, such as painkillers and drugs that treat mental health disorders, can cause drowsiness and lead to oversleeping.
• Substance use: Alcohol and drug use can have sedating effects, contributing to excessive daytime sleepiness and oversleeping.
• Environmental factors: Shift work, family demands, studying, and social life can disrupt sleep schedules and lead to oversleeping.
• Medical conditions: Hypothyroidism, oesophageal reflux, nocturnal asthma, and chronic painful conditions can also disrupt sleep and contribute to oversleeping.

What are the risks of oversleeping?

Oversleeping is associated with a host of health problems. While the exact cause-and-effect relationship is not known, sleeping too much has been linked to a higher risk of dying from a medical condition. Some of the risks associated with oversleeping are:

• Increased risk of death: Multiple studies have found that people who sleep nine or more hours a night have significantly higher death rates than those sleeping seven to eight hours. The risk of dying from heart disease and stroke increases with longer sleep times.
• Diabetes: Sleeping too much or too little can increase the risk of developing diabetes. Studies have shown that sleeping too long or less than six hours each night can increase the risk for this condition.
• Obesity: Sleeping too much or too little could contribute to weight gain. People who slept nine or ten hours every night were 21% more likely to become obese over six years than those who slept seven to eight hours.
• Heart disease: Women who slept nine to eleven hours per night were 38% more likely to have coronary heart disease than those who slept eight hours.
• Headaches: For some people prone to headaches, sleeping longer than usual can trigger head pain. This is believed to be due to the effect oversleeping has on certain neurotransmitters in the brain, including serotonin.
• Back pain: While doctors previously recommended bed rest for back pain, they now advise against sleeping more than usual. Maintaining a certain level of activity and not disrupting your regular exercise routine are now considered more beneficial.
• Depression: While insomnia is more commonly associated with depression, around 15% of people with depression sleep too much. This can make their depression worse, as regular sleep habits are important for recovery.
• Psychiatric diseases: Oversleeping has been linked to a greater risk of psychiatric diseases and a higher body mass index (BMI).

What are the treatments for oversleeping?

Oversleeping, or "long sleeping", can be a symptom of an underlying health condition. If you're regularly sleeping too long, it's recommended that you consult a healthcare professional. They can help provide a proper diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.

Lifestyle Changes

• Maintain a consistent sleep schedule: Establish a regular sleeping and waking-up time. This helps regulate your sleep-wake cycles and improve your overall sleep hygiene.
• Optimise your sleep environment: Make sure your bedroom is dark, cool, and quiet. Reserve your bed only for sleeping and sex. Avoid using electronic devices before bed, as the light emitted by them can interfere with your sleep cycles.
• Exercise regularly: Engage in moderate exercise during the day. This can improve your sleep quality. However, avoid exercising close to bedtime as it may stimulate your body and make it harder to fall asleep.
• Limit substance use: Reduce your consumption of alcohol and caffeine. Alcohol can disrupt your sleep and is often associated with nightmares and sweats, while caffeine too close to bedtime can affect your sleep cycles.
• Create a bedtime routine: Establish a consistent bedtime routine with calming activities such as meditation, reading, or a warm bath. This can help signal to your body that it's time to wind down and prepare for sleep.
• Avoid napping: If you're having trouble falling asleep, avoid taking daytime naps as they may disrupt your nighttime sleep. If you must nap, keep them short (20-30 minutes) and try to nap earlier in the day.

Medical Treatments

• Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Therapy: This is a common treatment for sleep apnea, a disorder that causes pauses in breathing during sleep. PAP therapy involves wearing a mask over the nose and/or mouth, connected to a machine that delivers continuous airflow to keep the airways open.
• Medications: Various medications can be prescribed to treat oversleeping and its underlying causes. These include wakefulness-promoting agents such as modafinil (Provigil), stimulants such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) or modafinil, and antidepressants such as citalopram (Celexa) or fluoxetine (Prozac).
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): This is often the first-line treatment for insomnia and can be done with a licensed professional in person, online, or over the phone. CBT can help improve your sleep habits and overall mental health.
• Light Therapy and Melatonin: For certain circadian rhythm disorders, a combination of light therapy in the morning and melatonin supplements in the evening can help regulate your sleep-wake cycles. However, it is recommended to consult a doctor before trying this treatment.

Frequently asked questions