/Video/How Sleep Deprivation Can Exhaust You

How Sleep Deprivation Can Exhaust You

In 1965, a 17-year-old American high school student named Randy Gardner stayed awake for 264 hours – equivalent to 11 days. He conducted this experiment to test how well he could cope without sleep.

The Results of His Experiment:

  • By Day 2, Gardner’s eyes stopped focusing. He also lost the ability to identify objects by touch.
  • By Day 3, he became moody and uncoordinated.
  • Toward the end of the experiment, he struggled to concentrate, experienced short-term memory problems, became paranoid, and started hallucinating.

Although Gardner recovered without long-term physical or psychological harm, others may not be so fortunate. Sleep deprivation can disrupt hormone balance, weaken the immune system, and, in severe cases, lead to death.

The Importance of Sleep

Adults need 7–8 hours of sleep per night, while teenagers require around 10 hours. Sleepiness is triggered by signals from our bodies, indicating brain fatigue, as well as cues from the environment, such as the onset of darkness.

As sleep-inducing chemicals like adenosine and melatonin build up, we drift into sleep. This progresses into deeper stages of sleep, slowing our breathing and heart rate, and relaxing our muscles.

However, in the U.S., an estimated 30% of adults and 66% of teenagers suffer from regular sleep deprivation. The effects can be devastating.

The Impact of Sleep Deprivation

Lack of sleep impairs learning, memory, mood, and reaction times. It can cause irritability, hallucinations, high blood pressure, and increase the risk of conditions like diabetes and obesity.

In 2014, a soccer fan tragically died after staying awake for 48 hours to watch the World Cup. Although his death was attributed to a stroke, research shows that regularly sleeping less than six hours per night increases the risk of stroke by 4.5 times compared to those who consistently sleep 7–8 hours.

For a small number of people with an extremely rare genetic mutation, insomnia becomes a daily struggle. This condition, known as Fatal Familial Insomnia (FFI), causes the body to enter a terrifying state of wakefulness, preventing deep sleep. Over months or years, this worsening insomnia leads to dementia and eventually death.

Why Does Insomnia Have Such Devastating Effects?

Scientists believe the answer lies in the buildup of waste products in the brain. While we are awake and active, brain cells consume energy and produce byproducts, including adenosine. Adenosine suppresses brain stimulation, promoting sleep and improving its quality.

In addition to adenosine, other waste products accumulate in the brain. If not cleared, these byproducts overwhelm the brain, leading to many symptoms of sleep deprivation.

Researchers have discovered the glymphatic system, a mechanism that clears these waste products from the brain. The glymphatic system is most active during sleep, using cerebrospinal fluid to flush out harmful waste buildup between brain cells.

While scientists continue to uncover the restorative mechanisms of sleep, we can take steps to ensure quality rest by managing stress, maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, and prioritizing proper sleep habits.

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