Sleep

[MC HP]

I read recently that humans die from lack of sleep sooner than lack of food. Maybe i'm extremely ignorant but how exactly can you die from lack of sleep?

[Curious79]

I heard that too.

[WaldoMcFroog]

Well, think of it like this. If the body didn't need sleep, why would we do it? Therefore, sleep is essential. It's been proved that sleep deprivation can kill and the fact that it's deeply unpleasant is why it's used as a form of torture in various places around the world. Having gone 48 hours without (and without any artificial stimulants beyond coffee), I can confirm that the brain definitely starts misbehaving quite quickly.

[tracymort]

did you not see shattered with dermot oleary? - http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/S/shatte red/news/features/Sunday_what_happens_no_sleep.html bbc3 also showed an episode of bodyhits about sleep deprivation and it was mentioned that you would die of lack of sleep before lack of food.

[anglnymph]

When we sleep our body regenerates the energy it used up while we were awake. Basically, the less we sleep, the less time our body has to regain its energy, and to recuperate. Being awake (without even doing anything else) takes a lot of energy, and combined with everything else humans do during the day (eat, walk, work out (in most cases), stress, work, etc...), our bodies lose a lot of energy while we are awake, and when we sleep, it regenerates all that energy.

[andy hughes]

The brain needs sleep to assimilate the stimulous it has taken in during the waking hours. Our brains are like icebergs,nine tenths are below the surface, and if the rest periods to adjust to information input are removed, the brain ceases to function very quickly, and, as advised, with unpleasant consequences, which are ultimately fatal.

[MC HP]

Thanks for the answers, but how WOULD you die from sleep deprivation? surely you would fall asleep before you die.

[Rabelais]

The nazis experimented with sleep deprivaion in concentration camps and found a human dies after approximatly 264hrs of total sleep deprivation. The central nervous system damage occurs when the housekeeping that is undertaken is prevented. The actual specifics are poorly understood, but basically if not allowed to undergo this housekeeping the cells both die and malfunction. Leading to loss of homeostasis and CNS autonomic regulation. The result is your blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar levels and hormone regulatioon all go to pot. The acutal cause of death is either a myocardial infarction or cns shutdown.

[Richard Head]

Funnily enough, I've been awake for 4 days & nights & I can honestly say it hasn't had any adverse eff....................................................................