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Lack of sleep can raise teens' blood pressure
HUNTINGTON -- A good night's sleep really is important, and a lack of sleep can actually raise teens' blood pressure and lead to cardiovascular disease later in life, according to the American Heart Association.
A lack of sleep also can contribute to other problems -- from poor skin to irritability.
One report published recently in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, said teens sometimes sleep less because of technology in their bedrooms, things such as computers, mp3 players and cell phones.
Researchers found the odds of elevated blood pressure increased 3.5 times for those with low sleep efficiency and 2.5 times for those with sleeping periods of less than 6.5 hours, even after adjusting for gender, body mass index and socioeconomic status.
Adolescents who have trouble falling asleep or who wake up too early had higher systolic blood pressure compared to children with higher sleep efficiency, the report said.
Researchers say adolescents need nine hours of sleep, and can be helped by having regular sleep and wake times and quiet, dark bedrooms.
Sleep deprivation can also hurt teens' ability to concentrate and problem solve, contribute to acne, lead to aggressive or inappropriate behavior, lead to unhealthy eating habits, and contribute to other illness, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
