Sleep; Hurting Youth More Than Helping

Sleep; Hurting Youth More Than Helping?

Sleep deprived teens are not just a hazard mentally and physically to them selves, but to all those around them. Teens are falling asleep in class, dozing off behind the wheel and arriving late to school and work; All due to a lack of sleep.

Stated in a recent poll it was shown that about 20 % of teens are getting the recommended nine hours of sleep each night. And to make it worse about 45% of all teen are getting less than eight hours of sleep on school nights. This problem is directly related to there school grades as well. About ever week 28% of high school students fall asleep during class, missing valuable information. With another 22% falling asleep while doing there home work. And not to mention the 14% of high school students late to school every week because they over slept there alarms. All these factors add up when it comes to grades. Statically, it is proven that teens that get less sleep are proven to have worse grades then those who get the recommended amount of sleep. But the time that these teens become seniors in high school they are said to be missing around 12 hours of sleep each week. This can not be good for there education.

Education is not the only thing affected by this lack of sleep. There driving and safety is also at risk. It is said that more then half of all teens have driven drowsy or sleepy in the last year. And 15% of all teen drivers have driven drowsy or sleepy and not "full awake" this week! This is causing our teens to not only be a hazard to themselves but also to all those around them.

Who is to blame for this lack of sleep? One theory that has arose is that the teens "internal sleep" clock is causing them to stay up late. But the early school start times is cutting there "natural" sleep time off short. Should we push have school start times in order to accommodate teens? But the schools cant be blamed. Some other factors are ; in 76% of the teen population television is the most popular thing to do an hour before bed. Along with The internet and text messaging for 44% of teens. It is said that 97% of all teens have some type of electronic item that they use for entertainment an hour before sleep.

So what can we do to help ourselves and our teens out? For starters; establishing a regular sleep pattern that allows for 9+ hours of sleep can help. If you get in the rhythm