Teens'' sleep needs to be readdressed
05/09/2011
Teenagers need to be encouraged to sleep more soundly in their beds at night to avoid all sorts of health and educational difficulties, one expert has noted.
Failing to rest well can lead to problems such as heart disease, a weakened immune system and depression if paired with genetic vulnerabilities, Mary Carskadon, a professor of psychiatry at Brown University said.
Ms Carskadon, who is also the director of Chronobiology and Sleep Research at EP Bradley Hospital in Providence, explained to USA Today that sleep is also essential for effective learning.
She continued: "It helps you to prepare to learn, and also to benefit from what you've learned in the day.
"It's the glue that keeps that information and sharpens it in your brain."
Even in light of these issues, she pointed out that teenagers are still not getting enough hours of shut-eye, as they doze off around midnight and have to be awake at 07:00 or earlier.
Posted by Elizabeth Mewes
