{"id":624,"date":"2025-03-05T20:00:10","date_gmt":"2025-03-05T20:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dolfielddental.com\/blog\/?p=624"},"modified":"2025-04-28T20:02:58","modified_gmt":"2025-04-28T20:02:58","slug":"i-have-sleep-apnea-can-i-make-up-lost-sleep-by-napping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dolfielddental.com\/blog\/2025\/03\/05\/i-have-sleep-apnea-can-i-make-up-lost-sleep-by-napping\/","title":{"rendered":"I Have Sleep Apnea: Can I Make Up Lost Sleep by Napping?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For young children, \u201cnaptime\u201d is something that\u2019s pretty much a necessity; kids simply benefit from having that extra time each afternoon to recharge and recuperate to finish their day strong! However, as adults, rarely do we have time for naps built into our schedules. But is this something that should change? For adults with sleep apnea<\/a>, is there any benefit to napping during the day in an attempt to catch up on lost sleep? Here\u2019s what you need to know about sleep debt, along with how you can ensure you\u2019re getting quality rest on a regular basis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How Sleep Apnea Causes Sleep Debt<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sleep apnea refers to a condition that causes patients to wake up frequently throughout the night. This can be due to several factors, but most often it\u2019s the result of the obstruction of the airway. If the flow of oxygen is blocked, your body automatically responds by waking up to restore your breathing pattern \u2013 however, this prevents you from entering REM sleep, which is crucial for you to feel recharged and full of energy when you awaken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These episodes, which are often called apneas, can occur hundreds of times in a given night, which can lead to quite a lot of compounded lost sleep. This deficit, or sleep debt, measures the difference between the amount of sleep you need and the amount of sleep you actually get. For example, if you should be getting eight hours of sleep, but you\u2019re only getting closer to four, you\u2019re adding 4 hours to your sleep debt \u2013 at this rate, that\u2019s an average of 28 lost hours of sleep every week. Even missing out on half an hour here and there can quickly add to this deficit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consequences of Sleep Debt<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sleep debt can negatively impact your health in many ways, and you might be faced with the following consequences if you aren\u2019t getting enough nightly sleep:<\/p>\n\n\n\n