Dr Oz: Could You Survive On 24 Hours Of No Sleep?
The next day is always a struggle when you lose a night of sleep, but have you ever wondered what would happen if you didn’t sleep at all? After Dr Oz did a segment on how to eat healthy meals on just $4 a day, he conducted an experiment to find out what would happen to your mind, reflexes, and diet without sleep. Plus, how can you make up for that lost night of sleep? Dr Oz recruited four women to take a challenge to survive for an entire day without sleep.
Dr Oz: What Happens In Your Body When You Don’t Sleep?
Dr Oz explored what happens to someone when they go 24 hours without sleep. Would you be able to survive? (lethargic / Flickr)
Ashley, Kate, Gabriella, and Michelle got together for an overnight at a New York hotel suite. The first rule was no sleeping! Lifestyle expert Tia Brown was on site the whole time to watch what was going on. A member of Dr Oz’s medical team was also there to monitor the cognitive function of the four women throughout the night. He checked their vital signs and had them undergo some cognitive testing.
Dr Oz: Could You Survive a Day With No Sleep?
At 7:30 PM, dinner time, the women were officially on lock down. When Tia asked if they were ready, they seemed optimistic. But how long would that optimism last? At midnight, some signs of fatigue were starting to show, so you know that by 4 AM, Tia and the four women were exhausted. At 8:00 AM the women were brought to the studio to get ready for the show. At the 24 hour mar, the four women were brought on set and they seemed to be more sluggish as ever.
Dr Oz: How A Lack Of Sleep Affects Your Diet
Two women in particular noticed definite cognitive decline in how they performed during tests with the doctor. Tia especially noticed mood changes among the women as the night went on. But what about their diet? Dr Oz admitted they put a tray of sweet snacks out as bait for the women. Because it takes a lot of will power to make healthy decisions, a lack of sleep can affect your sense of self control. Plus, a lack of sleep can affect your hormones and how full you feel. The women had fruits and vegetables to choose from but they also had chips, donuts, and other unhealthy snacks.
How Many Extra Calories Do You Eat When Sleep Deprived?
The later it got, the worse the women ate. Even Tia ate an Oreo at 4:15 AM! Dr Oz revealed that when you’re sleep deprived, you’ll eat an average of 550 calories extra a day. That adds up to 52 extra pounds a year.
What Dr Oz was most concerned about, however, was reflexes. An estimated 21% of fatal motor crashes involve driver fatigue so Dr Oz had one woman simulate driving after being awake for 24 hours straight. It became pretty clear that she was ignoring speed restrictions, missed a stop sign, and couldn’t even stay in her lane.
Dr Oz: How To Recover From A Sleepless Night
Fortunately, Dr Oz revealed three rules to recover from a sleepless night:
- Drink 1/2 cup of coffee every 2-3 hours
- Double your water intake
- Take a 20-minute nap before 3 PM
If you’ve had a funny thing happen to you because of a lack of sleep, share your funny story or picture with Dr Oz and possibly win an all-expenses paid trip to the show and New York as well as other prizes. For a chance to win, check out Dr Oz’s website.
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