Sleep is key to human health and teenagers are no exception. Many teens do not get the recommended 9 hours of sleep. This has significant effects on physical and mental health. Teenagers who do not get enough sleep could develop high blood pressure or gain weight. When you are tired your body produces a hormone ghrelin which can make you crave unhealthy foods. Adolescents that don’t meet the required 9-10 hours of sleep are also more likely to engage in risky behavior. They are also more likely to have feelings of anxiety and depression. Lack of sleep affects your mood and irritability. Sleep is super important for all students, and lack of sleep could really impact your grades. It can make it hard to pay attention in class and likely lower grades overall.

Lack of sleep can have serious consequences for teenagers in all aspects of their lives. If parents and educators worked together to make sure teens got the right amount of sleep, it would help prevent the negative causes of sleep denervation and promote overall health and well being