Human Body's Response to Hunger Strikes: A Detailed Analysis

Kathmandu. How long can we live without eating? During a hunger strike, people try to survive by drinking water or salt water.

According to historical and scientific data, a person can remain on hunger strike for 6 to 8 weeks or 40 to 60 days. However, after 3 weeks, the condition starts to deteriorate, and a time comes when the person has to be forcibly kept on an IV drip to save them.

Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk has been on a hunger strike for 24 days. On the 20th day of the strike at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, he was forcibly taken to the hospital. But even there, he is not willing to eat anything. Today we will discuss the changes that occur in a person's body during a hunger strike, its effects, and how they survive.  

Weakness and Hunger
In the initial days of a hunger strike, the body's glycogen, or stored sugar in the liver, starts to deplete. Intense hunger, stomach pain, and headache occur. Then the body starts burning fat for energy, which reduces the feeling of hunger. This can cause dizziness, lethargy, and low blood pressure when standing.

Serious Medical Risks
Between 20 to 30 days of a hunger strike, as the body's fat reserves deplete, muscles start to break down. The person may have difficulty seeing, hearing problems, and slurred speech. And a state of severe mental confusion can also arise.  

Life Threat
If the hunger strike exceeds 30 days or reaches 40 days, the person's heart muscle starts to weaken, leading to irregular heartbeats. The risk of kidney and liver failure increases.