Lack of SLEEP could kill a person much quicker than STARVATION.
According to studies, not being able to sleep for up to seven days could potentially lead to death. However, starving yourself for seven days would only result in fatigue and raging hunger, but you’d still be alive. Your body needs sleep to function, and going without doesn’t just feel unpleasant, it can also have some pretty serious consequences which can lead to the brain to "eat" itself.
Here’s how the body tends to respond when you stay awake for:
1 Day: Staying awake for 24 hours can affect you in much the same way as intoxication. You’re going to want to avoid driving or doing something potentially unsafe if you’ve been up for a full day and night.
2 Days: When you go without sleep for 48 hours, things start to get pretty miserable. You may drift through the day, feeling foggy or completely out of touch with what’s happening. You might find it even more difficult to concentrate or remember things. You might also notice increases in irritability or moodiness.
3 Days: If you’ve gone 3 days without sleeping, things are about to get weird. You’ll probably find it difficult to focus on conversations, your work, even your own thoughts. Even simple activities, like getting up to look for something, might seem too difficult to contemplate. It’s not uncommon to experience feelings of depression, anxiety, or paranoia after going without sleep for a few days.
>3 Days: If it’s been more than 3 days and you can’t sleep, it’s best to see your healthcare provider right away as it's getting very dangerous. The side effects listed above will only get worse. You’ll probably start experiencing more frequent hallucinations and increased paranoia. Eventually, symptoms of psychosis can trigger a disconnect from reality. Your brain will begin to stop functioning properly, which can lead to organ failure.