Is the term "sleep debt" true?

I have heard it thrown around in different posts. I was just wondering many people that don't feel refreshed immediately Is because of the years of bad sleep or lack of sleep. So the longer you have had the sleep disorder, the longer the sleep debt?

Different for everyone... and some people don't agree that it really exists in terms of how long it takes to feel better, but then you have to add in the time it takes to get set up with a machine, mask and pressure changes, plus how bad you might have felt before. Certainly it's unlikely that after years of feeling lousy you'll instantly get a 100% change in one night, but most people get at least some improvement within a reasonable time (weeks if not sooner). Can't really be measured - too subjective.

Having been here several years and read many posts on that topic, my opinion is that there may be a sleep debt that comes into play, however I don't think it has an impact past a month or two. If there is any scientific research on sleep debt, I haven't heard about it. I suspect that one's overall health plays a big role in determining how long it takes to get 'back on track' after starting CPAP.

Since rebuilding lost mental acuity may take several months, if not more,
I am inclined to think of it as "healing".
Now we get to define "sleep debt".

I wonder if what some people put down to 'sleep debt' is partially the slow healing of an abused body that's suffered the stresses and strains of oxygen deprivation and the other bad effects of sleep apnea. it takes time to recover from some things.

Sir NoddinOff wrote:Having been here several years and read many posts on that topic, my opinion is that there may be a sleep debt that comes into play, however I don't think it has an impact past a month or two. If there is any scientific research on sleep debt, I haven't heard about it. I suspect that one's overall health plays a big role in determining how long it takes to get 'back on track' after starting CPAP.

+1 ... Although many may disagree, I question the term, "sleep debt". I think after a few nights of effective therapy, the issues that caused the sleep apnea to begin with, disappears. However, I do agree one's overall health plays a big role.

My neurologist told me that there is NO such thing as "sleep debt", but if there was such a thing you definitely have it.

I was diagnosed severe AHI of 140. Of course I felt better right away. I have been on this therapy since April 2013 I can tell you that it continues to get better for me. The steps are baby but when I reflect my road to today I continue to get better and recover.


I wish you well..

andy2016 wrote:I have heard it thrown around in different posts. I was just wondering many people that don't feel refreshed immediately Is because of the years of bad sleep or lack of sleep. So the longer you have had the sleep disorder, the longer the sleep debt?

If it doesn't exist, there sure are lots of links to that term........looks like both sides of the argument.

https://www.google.com/search?q=sleep+d ... 8&oe=utf-8

I've always believed that it DOES exist in some way, shape or form.
And, over the years, I've also believed (like palerider) that it's also the bodily damage we've accumulated over the years.....if it's from working long hours or shiftwork with short sleep time or "burning the candle at both ends".......it eventually takes its toll and better, oxygenated sleep is needed to "recover" some of that. I think "how much" depends on the individual and other factors.


Den

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andy2016 wrote:Is the term "sleep debt" true?

No. Debt is an amount of money borrowed by one party from another. No one borrows or loans sleep.

But, if you owe a lot of money relative to your income and cash balance, you may have problems sleeping.

ChicagoGranny wrote:

andy2016 wrote:Is the term "sleep debt" true?

No. Debt is an amount of money borrowed by one party from another. No one borrows or loans sleep.

But, if you owe a lot of money relative to your income and cash balance, you may have problems sleeping.

Haven't you ever heard the phrase......."You're writing checks that your body can't cash."?
(from a banking perspective, an "overdraft" is still an "unauthorized loan")


Den (who spent years in banking and with a banking computer software company)

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If you read the more recent studies on sleep deprivation (because that is one of the things OSA causes) they found it takes a couple of days to get over a nights lack of sleep. One of the big things about sleep deprivation is that people firmly believe that the lack of sleep has no effect on them - even when it is proven that it does by the scores on tests.
So that is sleep "debt" with regard to sleep alone.

With OSA however you are also dealing with the effects of years of stress and potentially damage caused by low O2. THAT debt can take years to recover from. So most of the time here when people talk about "sleep debt" they are taking about years of not sleeping causing obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and brain issues.

andy2016 wrote:I have heard it thrown around in different posts. I was just wondering many people that don't feel refreshed immediately Is because of the years of bad sleep or lack of sleep. So the longer you have had the sleep disorder, the longer the sleep debt?

Are you just curious, or do you not feel as well as you think you should?

It's important to remember that a well-functioning CPAP system will only keep the airway splinted open. You can breathe well and still be sleeping poorly. Are you smart about sleep hygiene?

Wulfman... wrote:Den (who spent years in banking and with a banking computer software company)

My sources in the banking industry say you were adamantly against Adjustable Rate Mortgages.

ChicagoGranny wrote:

Wulfman... wrote:Den (who spent years in banking and with a banking computer software company)

My sources in the banking industry say you were adamantly against Adjustable Rate Mortgages.

Well, I did do two conversions in your "area"......one in Broadview and the other in Oak Lawn. Maybe you know them?

ARMs have advantages and disadvantages. They're good if rates are falling, but not so good if rates are rising.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adjustable-rate_mortgage


Den

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apnea patients also need to stay open to the idea that they may or may not have an undiagnosed medical condition, that is causing cpap treatment to seem less than effective.