sleep problem
August 8, 2013 | 25,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Kathrin Hamann
So I'll describe my problem:
Since I went to bed in the early hours of Tuesday, I slept until 3 pm. That's why I wasn't tired during the night to Wednesday and couldn't sleep. I then slept from 10 am to 4 pm. To get back into the right rhythm, I went to bed early last night. After half an hour of sleep, I was woken up by the noise of an airplane. Since then, I haven't been able to sleep. I don't feel tired at all. I now also have a slight panic that I won't be able to sleep anymore or that I'll get hallucinations. Now I plan to try to sleep again tonight, otherwise I'll be sleepless again if I sleep now. Do I have any health risks to worry about if I only sleep tonight?
Good day,
I am happy to help you further.
It is indeed possible to stay awake for longer than 24 hours without fearing any health risks. It is even possible to go without sleep for 2 days without any problems, in experiments/self-tests, people have even managed to stay awake for 72 hours. However, this is not recommended, as the body becomes tired, the mind becomes sluggish, and one may become prone to aggression.
You do not need to fear any health damage. Try to stay awake until this evening and find your way back to a normal rhythm.
This is what I also recommend to my patients who work shifts or after long flights with so-called jet lag. Stay awake until the usual bedtime of 9-10 pm and then adjust to a normal sleep rhythm.
All the best and a speedy recovery!
Kind regards,
Dr. K. Hamann
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