Teens and Younger Kids are Having Trouble with Sleep

A research article in the February 15th Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that 22% of middle and high school students say they never get enough sleep, and 60% have difficulty falling asleep at least once a week. The research was conducted with 238 students in Pueblo, Colorado, and the results were disturbing. Kids with the highest GPAs were getting the most and best quality sleep and were less likely to be having trouble concentrating in class. Related research at Northwestern University found that getting an extra hour of sleep each night also may reduce the risk of being overweight.

If teens have trouble sleeping, they should remember to avoid caffeinated beverages (including soda) after noon, and not smoke. Teens should not be falling asleep in class. If they are, try to help them get more rest and if that fails, consult your physician. Teens need at least 8 hours of sleep a night and middle school students should get 10 hours of sleep a night.

Click here to link to a previous Teen Health 411 post on sleep.

Resources:
The National Sleep Foundation

Photo credit: mathwizxp