How Long Can a Person Survive Without Sleep?

In May 2007 a British man named Tony Wright stayed awake for 266 hours, just a little more than 11 days. He kept his eyes open by eating carrot juice, bananas, avocados, pineapple and nuts.

The exhausting feat broke Randy Gardner's 1964 world record of 254 sleep-free hours.

Neither champ made it into the Guinness Book of World Records. The tireless world-record keeper does not award sleep-deprived contest winners because of possible health risks to such endeavors.

Some animals can go months without sleeping. But for most people, just one night of bad sleep sets off mood swings and irritability. Sleeplessness can lead to poor concentration and decision-making. Operating machinery or driving a car on little shut-eye is dangerous. Longer periods of sleeplessness can lead to hallucinations, vision problems, and paranoia.

• Sleep Deprivation: The Great American Myth
• Insomnia Mania: Newborn Mammals Don't Sleep for a Month
• Why Do We Sleep?