Article: The best and most obvious way to treat sleep deprivation is to get more sleep. Since sleep deprivation occurs if you don’t sleep enough, increasing your amount of sleep can get rid of the symptoms. Most people need seven to nine hours of sleep each night, so try to get an amount of sleep within that window each night.  If the sleep deprivation is caused by an isolated incident, like one all-nighter, one good night’s sleep can help you recover. If you are suffering from sleep deprivation due to lack of sleep over an extended time, you can sleep longer each night or take 20-minute naps throughout the day. When you don’t get the sleep that you need each night, you end up with a sleep debt. Sleep debt is the amount of sleep you missed out on — so, if you only slept five hours when you should have slept eight, that's three hours of sleep debt. If you do this twice a week, you have a six hour sleep debt. Sleep deprivation can be treated by repaying your sleep debt by catching up on that much sleep.  You should sleep the amount of hours you owe your body to help avoid and treat sleep deprivation. This might take days, weeks, or even longer. There is disagreement on whether or not sleep debt can truly be repaid; however, one study found that a 20-minute nap could make up for one hour of missed sleep. The best course of action is usually to make changes to your sleep schedule so that you ensure you get adequate sleep going forward.  You may end up with severe sleep debt from hundreds of hours of missed sleep, resulting in serious and irreversible health problems. If you are suffering sleep deprivation, you should go see your doctor. The sleep deprivation may be caused by an underlying condition, such as insomnia, depression, or sleep apnea. Your doctor may be able to diagnose the condition or refer you to a sleep clinic.  Your doctor will ask you various questions about your sleeping habits to try to figure out the underlying condition. The doctor may prescribe a sleeping pill to temporarily help you sleep better. Sleeping pills, prescribed or over-the-counter, should be a temporary fix. Sleeping pills can lead to worse sleep problems if used for a long time. Using sleeping pills daily can lead to dependence. If you think you may be dependent on sleeping pills, do not stop abruptly.  Gradually wean yourself off the pills over a period of days or weeks with the help of your physician.  Be aware of side effects such as headaches and nausea. . To get a better night’s sleep, you should improve your sleep hygiene, including adopting a consistent sleep routine. Start by going to sleep and getting up at the same time every night, even on weekends. Prioritize sleep by making sure you have seven to nine hours each night.  Make sure your sleep environment is appropriate for sleep. The room should be dark, quiet, and cool. If you need some kind of noise to help you fall asleep, try a fan or white noise machine. Don’t use electronics — including smartphones, tablets, laptops, televisions — at least a half hour before going to bed. Start winding down for sleep 10 minutes to an hour before bedtime. It might help to have a nightly routine that includes relaxing activities, like a warm bath, laying out your clothes for the next day, or writing in a journal. To help figure out why or what is leading to the sleep deprivation, you can keep a sleep diary. A sleep diary can help you find reasons why you are losing sleep or habits that are causing you to have less sleep that you need. Make sure to keep your diary every day for a couple of weeks.  Include information about your sleeping habits, such as when you lay down to sleep and finally fall asleep. Include when you wake up, how many hours you actually slept, how many times you woke up during the night, and how restful the sleep was. Make a note of what you did if you couldn’t fall asleep, such as laying there, watching television, or got up for a few minutes. List the food you ate and beverages consumed and when, especially those with caffeine. Note your mood or stress level that day. A sleep diary can be extremely helpful if you end up seeing a physician to discuss your sleep issues. It will be a great reference point for them.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Sleep more. Repay your sleep debt. Visit your doctor. Improve your sleep hygiene Keep a sleep diary.