Sleep debt triggers multidimensional physiological and psychological abnormalities, with key symptoms including:
• Cognitive impairment: Reduced focus, memory decline (especially episodic memory deficits)
• Emotional disturbances: Irritability, anxiety, emotional numbness, or depressive tendencies in some cases
• Metabolic dysfunction: Appetite abnormalities (especially cravings for sweets), weight fluctuations, and insulin resistance
• Immune suppression: Frequent colds, delayed wound healing
Somatic Manifestations
Chronic sleep deprivation leads to organic changes:
• Cardiovascular system: Morning palpitations, blood pressure fluctuations (systolic BP increases by 10-15 mmHg)
• Skin aging: Worsened dark circles, accelerated collagen loss (30% increase in wrinkles)
• Endocrine disruption: Hair loss, abnormal sex hormone levels (testosterone drops by 12-15% in men)
Warning Signs
When these occur, sleep debt has reached a critical stage:
• Excessive daytime sleepiness: Epworth Sleepiness Scale score ≥10 (e.g., inability to stay awake during meetings)
• Sleep-related hallucinations: Visual/auditory hallucinations before sleep or upon waking
• Motor coordination impairment: Unsteady gait, increased error rates (similar to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%)
Note: If symptoms persist for more than 2 weeks, polysomnography (PSG) is recommended to rule out pathological conditions like sleep apnea.