It seems that nearly every year we are provided with another new study that emphasizes the importance of healthy in growing and developing teenagers. Just as food nourishes your body, sleep is one of the most important ways that you can directly impact the overall health of your brain.
Consumers will often times do their homework when selecting the proper paint for a specific surface, the proper mixture of chemicals to remove a stain and when searching for the best hotels or restaurants. Given the overall importance of a good night´s rest, it is shocking that few do their homework when it comes to mattress shopping.
Many simply walk into their local mattress store in hopes of finding something soft and on sale. At Urban Mattress, our goal is to inform the buyer and aid them through the mattress buying process in a way that ensures that they are investing in both a new mattress and better sleep.
Today we focus on some of the benefits of a good nights sleep, most importantly for developing adolescents, and point out a few of the dangers and consequences of sleep deprivation.
Teenage Dreams
As adolescents grow and develop into teenagers, it is common for their sleep patterns to somewhat change, but as parents, it is important that we are able to learn the differences between healthy and potentially dangerous sleep patterns.
So just how much sleep does your average teenager need on a daily basis? The scientific community has agreed that most teens require between 8 and 10 hours of sleep to fully reap the benefits of a well-rested body and mind. Surprisingly, only 15% of teens reported getting at least 8 ½ hours of sleep on school nights, and you can almost guarantee that these numbers did not improve over the weekend.
The Facts
- Doctors agree that sleep is just as important as the food you eat and the air you breathe. Just as healthy eating patterns allow for optimal physical performance, a well-rested brain is required for a person to function at their best.
- Teenagers are know to see shifts in their biological clocks causing them to both go to bed later and wake up at a later time as well. This is normal, within reason, and most teenagers find it difficult to fall asleep before 11:00.
- Growing teens require between 8 and 10 hours of sound sleep on a nightly basis, but studies prove that this is rarely accomplished.
- Irregular sleep patterns directly affect healthy sleep patterns. Going to bed at a reasonable time on weekdays becomes more difficult for those who choose to become night owls on the weekends.
- Sleeping disorders are common in teenagers, but most are treatable. Narcolepsy, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome and sleep insomnia are commonly reported in developing teenagers, and they should be taken seriously.
The Consequences
- Your ability to learn is greatly limited by lack of sleep. You are unable to fully concentrate and work out the solutions to problems that you would otherwise find solvable on a well-rested mind. The ability to remember small task or even names can also be impaired.
- Skin rashes, acne and pimples are also side effects of poor sleeping patterns. They are also attributed to stress, and as any teenager will be happy to tell you, stress is also a leading cause of sleep deprivation.
- The lack of sleep also causes many to be more aggressive and impatient. As stated, the mind works somewhat slower when you have not given it time to recover, and your attitude directly reflects your brains desire to avoid dealing with certain situations.
- The effects of alcohol, caffeine and nicotine are all increased when ingested.
- The body´s ability to battle illnesses is also impaired, and drowsiness can lead to accidents and dangerous situations.
- Teens already have interesting dietary choices, but unhealthy sleep patterns are also found to cause one to crave unhealthy and fatty foods. Salty and greasy foods lead to weight gain.
Interesting enough, the common biological clock of an American teenager directly conflicts with a normal school day. While you are unlikely to convince your regional superintendent to alter the schools operating hours, there are many solutions available to those looking to repair and reset their personal sleep patterns.
Check back later in the week, as Urban Mattress will share professional advice as to how you can improve and eliminate the problems holding you back from a solid night of rest.