One of the possible consequences of sleep apnea is that it can leave you with a sleep debt. This is the result of the repeated interruptions in your breathing that constantly force your brain to pull your body out of the sleep cycle. Once you realize that you have a sleep debt, you may find yourself wondering how long it will take to catch up on your lost rest. Unfortunately, the answer is often, “Longer than you think.”
Why Is It Difficult to Make Up Sleep Debt?
Sleep debt is the difference between the amount of sleep that your body requires and the amount of sleep that you’re getting. For example, if you only get five hours of sleep when your body requires seven hours, you’ll end up with a two-hour sleep debt.
It’s easy to think that getting extra sleep the next night will be enough to make up for your lost rest. However, what many people don’t realize is that sleep debt is a cumulative problem. If you’re consistently getting less sleep than you actually need, then one night of extra slumber won’t be nearly enough to make up for it; in many cases, resolving the issue could require weeks of extensive rest.
Furthermore, getting any amount of extra sleep at all can be easier said than done when you have sleep apnea. If the disorder goes untreated, then it will keep disrupting your sleep on a nightly basis, and your sleep debt will only continue to grow.
What Can You Do to Make Up Your Sleep Debt?
Obviously, getting enough sleep is important for your overall health and your mental well-being. Thus, if you have accumulated a significant sleep debt, you should take whatever steps you can to start making it up.
First, if you have sleep apnea, you should have it diagnosed and treated by a professional as soon as you can. In some cases, this might involve wearing a Vivos DNA appliance provided by your sleep dentist. If you wear this simple device to bed every night, it will gradually widen your upper airway. This can lower the chances of an obstruction occurring, thus making pauses in breathing less frequent.
In addition to getting your sleep apnea under control, you should also adjust your sleep habits. Plan on getting one or two hours of extra sleep every night in order to slowly make up for the rest you’ve lost. Make sure that you’re avoiding bad habits that might make it harder to fall asleep, such as drinking caffeine in the evening or looking at your phone right before bed.
Making up sleep debt often isn’t easy, but it can be essential for improving your health and your overall quality of life. Don’t hesitate to take whatever measures are needed to enjoy more restful nights again.
About the Practice
At Exceptional Dentistry Pain & Sleep Solutions, our dentists are dedicated to helping patients find relief from sleep-disordered breathing and TMJ disorder. If you’ve been diagnosed with mild to moderate sleep apnea, we may be able to help by providing you with a fully personalized Vivos DNA appliance. To take an important step toward getting your sleep apnea under control, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment at our Silver Spring practice by visiting our website or calling (301) 460-3331.