Maximum Sleep Debt

[Radicool]

The average sleep an adult (19 years +) should get is 7.5 - 9 hours. If you slept 6.5 hours, you would
acquire 1 hour of sleep debt.

Here's an article about maximum sleep debt:

http://www.tiredmiddleagedman.com/?p=592

In Summary

In summary: If we were to sleep 6 hours every night for a month, we would acquire a very large sleep
debt. What about if we slept only 6 hours every night for a year, or even 5, 6 or 7 years? How would
this affect the body and how long would it take to neutralize the sleep debt? Is there a maximum sleep
debt?

So I noticed how there are no replies, and I could not find a single article, forum or anything about maximum
sleep debt. This isn't about how to fix sleep debt or about how unlikely it is to sleep 6 hours a night (it is very
possible with work, parenting, etc). I want to see if anyone knows or can find an answer. Is there a maximum
sleep debt? What affects could such a significant sleep debt have on you?

 

[Maker]

I read about a study, it stated that it can take upto a week to recover from a severe sleep debt.

 

[Radicool]

Only a week. Well that's nowhere near as bad as the prediction in the article I linked. You wouldn't know where you read the week recovery thing from though?

 

[GreeN!X]

Some people like to have a shorter sleep, but it wouldn't really affect them, even with years of that practice, since it is enough for them. People who like to sleep the full 8 hours or maybe even more, when deprived of a few hours of sleep in just a few days, may feel really drowsy and when they sleep, they would be most likely sleep the length of their sleep debt.

So, I think it's up to the lifestyle of the person. The ones who doesn't sleep the full 8 hours may have a shitload of sleep debt, but they wouldn't feel a thing since they are accustomed to it. I don't think there's a max sleep debt too.

Just my thoughts though.

 

[Dr Super Good]

Some studies have shown that it is not the amount of sleep, but what happens during the sleep that is important. You can sleep >12 hours and still wake up tired or sleep as little as 4 and be full of energy and not tired at all.

The solo races around the world on small ships really use this in a technique called micro-sleeping if I recall.

 

[Direfury]

Didn't they show that on Deadliest Catch, too?

 

[trolman]

Just sleep faster.

 

[Xonok]

Some studies then again have shown, that people with sleep deprivation are not as capable of thinking and also that they can't notice it.

 

[Radicool]

Some studies have shown that it is not the amount of sleep, but what happens during the sleep that is important. You can sleep >12 hours and still wake up tired or sleep as little as 4 and be full of energy and not tired at all.

Sleeping 4 hours is apparently due to a rare gene that some people have. This website explains sleeping well, and it briefly mentions the rare gene that allows a very small percentage of the population to live with less sleep.

http://www.helpguide.org/life/sleeping.htm

Unfortunately this website doesn't say anything about maximum sleep debt either

 

[saphiree]

Just sleep faster.

Haha, I lolled xD

 

[MortAr]

Reading this, I've concluded my debt is currently infinite.
Thank you for ruining my life.