How late at night does one have to stay up to risk sudden death?
Disease description:
I work as a programmer and often stay up late working until one or two o'clock in the morning. I'm worried that I might die suddenly from staying up late. May I ask, how severe does staying up late have to be before sudden death becomes a risk?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
There is no clear threshold indicating exactly how much late-night staying up would lead to sudden death. However, long-term sleep deprivation is a risk factor for sudden death. Continuous lack of sleep, especially beyond 48 hours without rest, can significantly increase the burden on the heart, potentially causing arrhythmia, elevated blood pressure, and even acute myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accidents, which may result in sudden death. In such situations, the body's stress response mechanisms become highly activated, leading to abnormally elevated levels of stress hormones like adrenaline, which directly damage the heart.
Long-term sleep deprivation can also cause disturbances in glucose and lipid metabolism, elevate blood pressure, damage the vascular endothelium, and accelerate arteriosclerosis. These adverse secondary factors further increase the risk of cardiovascular events. When accumulated to a certain level, they may lead to sudden death. Prolonged lack of sleep also weakens immune function, increasing susceptibility to infections; affects the endocrine system, such as suppressing growth hormone secretion and influencing adolescent development; and can lead to mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression.
It is recommended to maintain a regular sleep schedule and avoid staying up late to protect overall health. If experiencing physical discomfort, timely medical attention is advised.
