Adolescent Sleep Deprivation Causes, Effects, and Prevention

Adolescent Sleep Deprivation: Causes, Effects, and Prevention Adolescent sleep deprivation is a common problem in today’s society, and it is also a very dangerous one. There have been numerous studies done to determine the causes of sleep deprivation in teenagers, the most prevalent being teens not getting enough sleep due to things like jobs and early school start times. There are many perceived dangers of this, such as sleepiness while driving and a risk for hypertension. There are a few ways to prevent these problems, ranging from parents stepping in to ensure teens get the proper amount of sleep to changing school start times to a later hour. Adolescent sleep deprivation is something that everyone, parents and teens alike, should†¦show more content†¦This is a very unlikely scenario for teens when time for homework, jobs, socializing, and biologically nessicary functions are taken in to consideration. Not getting enough sleep is not just bad for a student’s health; it is dangerous for everyone around them. Sleep deprivation has a lot of dangers associated with it. It can cause hypertension and, because of something commonly called Sleep Debt, it sometimes causes dangerous driving conditions. Sleep debt is the amount of sleep a person has lost over time, and it must be paid back just like a money loan would need to be (Dement amp; Vaughan, p. 501). Christopher Dement explains (1999), â€Å"Regardless of how rapidly it [sleep debt] can be paid back, the important thing is that the size of the sleep debt and its dengerous effects are definitely directly related to the amount of lost sleep† (p. 501). Risks for hypertension have also been linked to sleep deprivation because it can increase a person’s stress level. A study done by Dr. Susan Redline and published in the Science Journal Circulation on August 19, 2008 reports that: Teens who do not get enough sleep––or do not sleep well––have a greater risk for hypertension. In fact, one in seven of the teens in the study either had high blood pressure or were in the prehypertension stage. (as cited in Silver) Hypertension is a very serious problem that, if left untreated, can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and other organ failure. NotShow MoreRelatedReasons Why Schools Should Start Later During The Day1295 Words   |  6 Pages I am doing my paper on the reasons of why schools should start later in the day. I will analyze many negative effects that come with sleep deprivation, such as caffeine usage and car wrecks. I will also discuss the positive aspects of schools starting early, such as extra time for extracurricular activities. 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