Personal Health

Sleep

Between homework, sports, activities, and having a social life, many guys don’t get enough sleep. Sleep is very important and can affect your health.

Why is sleep important?

Your body, including your brain, works best when you get enough sleep. You’re probably aware that you feel tired and rundown when you don’t get enough sleep. But lack of sleep also makes it harder to concentrate or perform well while at school or doing homework, or when participating in sports or other activities. Not getting enough sleep worsens your mood and also slows down your reaction time and affects your ability to concentrate while driving.

What causes sleep problems?

Sleep problems can be caused by an irregular schedule, stress, (having lots of things on your mind), changes in your sleep environment (your bedroom is too hot, too cold, or too noisy), and by consuming stimulants such as caffeine too close to bedtime. Sometimes the cause is unknown. Exposure to electronic screens (phone, TV, computer) can also cause sleep problems.

Research has shown that many teens don’t get enough sleep. This is partly due to the fact that during adolescence teens’ “circadian rhythm” (the body’s internal clock) has a tendency to shift out of sync with the external clock. Instead of releasing melatonin (a hormone) early in the evening, the brain does so much later at night which makes it harder both to fall asleep early enough to get a full 9 hours of sleep, and to wake up on time the next morning.

How much sleep do I need each night?

According to research studies, teens need an average of about 9 hours of sleep each night. Younger children need more sleep (10-11 hours a night) and adults need slightly less (7-9 hours each night).

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