Your brain begins to fail after being awake for 16 hours!
Did you know that staying awake for 16 hours straight can have a significant impact on your cognitive and motor performance and can lead to impairment that is similar to that caused by a blood alcohol level of 0.5%?
...or nearly the legal limit for DUI.
Studies have shown that after 16 hours of wakefulness, cognitive and motor performance can be significantly impaired.
When you are sleep deprived, your body and brain are not functioning at their best, which leads to a number of effects on your cognitive and motor abilities, such as:
- Impaired attention and concentration: Sleep deprivation can make it difficult to focus and pay attention, leading to decreased productivity and increased errors.
- Slower reaction time: Sleep deprivation can slow your reaction time, making it harder to respond quickly to unexpected events.
- Decreased memory: Lack of sleep can negatively affect your ability to form and retain new memories.
- Reduced coordination and balance: Sleep deprivation can impair your ability to coordinate your movements and maintain your balance, making you more prone to accidents.
- Increased impulsivity: Sleep deprivation can lead to increased impulsivity, making it harder to control impulsive thoughts and behaviors.
- Negative impact on mood: Sleep deprivation can cause irritability, mood swings and increase the risk of depression and anxiety.
All of these cognitive and physical impairments can make it dangerous for people to operate heavy machinery, drive a car, or perform any other tasks that require attention and coordination.
This is why you must get enough sleep to maintain optimal cognitive and physical performance and avoid the risks associated with sleep deprivation.
So if you ever catch yourself approaching the 16-hour mark, maybe it’s time to wind down for the day.
You’re drunk, go home (and definitely don’t drive)!
