GMA 40: Watch Dan Childs Stay Awake for 40 Hours Straight

Sleep deprivation is a huge issue in the U.S. with an estimated 50 to 70 million Americans suffering from a chronic sleep disorder, according to the CDC. Every month 40 percent of adults report falling asleep during the day without meaning to at least once.

EEG leads being placed to measure Dan's brain waves.

Dan is giving up coffee for his 40 hour no sleep experiment. Unfortunately for Dan it would mess with the results.

When will the micro-sleeps begin?

The test will measure how his cognitive abilities have been affected by no sleep. Feel free to play along with Dan during the memory portion of the test.

No Dan's not asleep. He's been ordered to shut his eyes as doctors run more tests to look at his brain activity.

Dan insists it will "not be a problem at all" to stay awake for 40 hours.

Dan's sensors will find out if he falls into microsleep and track his eye movements to see how awake he is.

Sleep deficiency can have serious consequences. Nuclear reactor meltdowns, grounding of large ships, and aviation accidents have been associated with people who were chronically tired.

Dan's already survived the first 3 hours of his no sleep experiment. Just another 37 more hours to go!

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reported about 7–19 percent of adults in the United States did not get enough rest or sleep every day.
Nearly 40 percent of adults report falling asleep during the day without meaning to at least once a month. Also, an estimated 50 to 70 million Americans have chronic (ongoing) sleep disorders

Sleep is increasingly recognized as important to public health, with sleep insufficiency linked to motor vehicle crashes, industrial disasters, and medical and other occupational errors.

Sleep deficiency also is associated with an increased risk of injury in adults, teens, and children. For example, driver sleepiness (not related to alcohol) is responsible for serious car crash injuries and death. In the elderly, sleep deficiency might be linked to an increased risk of falls and broken bones.

Sleep Deprivation Stats: The National Department of Transportation estimates drowsy driving to be responsible for 1,550 fatalities and 40,000 nonfatal injuries annually in the United States.

World Record of Slumber Parties: The largest sleep over/pyjama party was achieved by 2,004 participants in an event organised by Girlguiding North West England in Cheshire, UK, on 27 September 2014.

Fun Fact: Regular exercise improves sleep patterns, but exercising before bed may keep you awake.

Tips for the Sleepless: Start winding down an hour before your bedtime. Dim the lights and stop using electronic devices including computers, tablets and cell phones.

Tips for the Sleepless: Consider meditating or practicing progressive muscle relaxation if you have trouble falling asleep.