REM Rebound

When a sleep deprived person finally gets some sleep, they pass quickly through the early stages of sleep and spend more time inn the deep sleep - suggesting the deeper sleep is the restorative portions we need to feel rested. This is known as REM Rebound. You do have to sleep more to repay a sleep debt once you begin CPAP therapy and can finally get good quality sleep. It is not a one to one ratio of pay back however, and thank goodness!! It may only take weeks or if you have severe sleep apnea and have live that way for many years, it may take several months to repay your sleep debt. Experts feel the payback does not have to be a one to one ratio because of the lengthened time the body spends in REM to healing from so many years of sleep debt.

I felt I needed MORE sleep after I first started using my CPAP. It was like my body was hungry for this type of sleep and now could finally get it. Deep sleep is restorative for your mind and body. Deep sleep is where you dream and dreams are perhaps used to clean out the irrelevant info that bombards us daily.

How do you know when you are finally getting enough sleep?

• When you find it easy to get out of bed
• You are not sleepy during the day
•  You don't have as much trouble concentrating on daily tasks or in meetings
• Generally, you're in a good mood