Whether you’re constantly waking up, tossing and turning, or already thinking about the next day at work, having sleepless nights after sleepless night can make you feel pretty lousy in the long run. And that can have serious consequences! This is what happens to your body when you are sleep deprived.
Sleep deprivation is not only extremely uncomfortable, but is even considered a method of torture. Chronic lack of sleep can also have serious health consequences. Even losing an hour or two of sleep a few days in a row can result in slower reaction times, mood swings and a higher risk of illness. The more nights you spend completely without sleep, the more serious the consequences.
Table of Contents
This is what happens to your body when you’re not sleeping
After a day
If you don’t get any sleep for 24 hours, you have to reckon with an impairment of your concentration and performance. You should already refrain from driving a car at this point. Mood swings, constant tremors, and difficulty seeing or hearing may also occur.
After a day and a half
After 36 hours without sleep, you can already feel a big change in your health . Your body is under a lot of stress at this point. Chills, loss of appetite and difficulty finding words are particularly common in this phase. Your body’s oxygen uptake can also decrease if you stay awake for so long.
After two days
After 48 hours without sleep, you start to feel completely disoriented. At this stage, you find it particularly difficult to remember things. Your risk of getting sick also increases because your immune system can no longer work properly. Microsleep often occurs after two days without sleep, during which you lose consciousness for a few moments.
After three days
After three days without sleep, you find it increasingly difficult to focus on conversations, work, or even your own thoughts. Not only do you suffer from extreme fatigue, but your heart beats much faster than usual. Depression, anxiety or paranoia can also occur.
After more than three days
Going more than three days without sleep is dangerous. The previously listed side effects worsen many times over. Eventually, the brain begins to malfunction as well, which can lead to organ failure—and, in rare cases, even death.
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Avoid sleep deprivation
Given the physical effects of sleep deprivation, it’s even more important to avoid sleep deprivation. So make sure you get at least 7 hours of sleep at night to stay healthy. If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, here are 3 tips and home remedies for falling asleep and here are 4 effective tips for staying asleep .
Our tip: So-called weighted blankets should ensure better sleep . These promise a relaxing effect and can help you fall asleep and stay asleep. For example, you can find the models from Cura of Sweden here .
Sources: healthline.com, meinschlaf.dec
