Sleep Deprivation: How Long Can You Stay Awake?

The longest recorded time that a person has stayed awake is 11 days and 25 minutes, set by Randy Gardner in 1965 as part of a high school science project. However, most people start to experience significant negative effects after just 24-36 hours without sleep. These effects include:

- Increased risk of accidents and injuries

- Impaired judgment and decision-making

- Difficulty concentrating and paying attention

- Slowed reaction times

- Increased irritability and mood swings

- Hallucinations and delusions

- Increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes

In extreme cases, sleep deprivation can even be fatal. Therefore, it is important to get enough sleep every night to maintain your health and well-being.