How Does Lack Sleep Affect 11-18 Year Old Adolescent

How does lack of sleep affect 11-18 year old adolescent? Introduction What is sleep? Sleep is â€Å"A condition of body and mind which typically recurs for several hours every night, in which the nervous system is inactive, the eyes closed, the postural muscles relaxed, and consciousness practically suspended†. People spend, on average, approximately a third of our life asleep. Along with eating, drinking and breathing, sleeping is one of the pillars for maintaining good mental and physical health. Sleep is really important to get enough sleep especially for adolescent. Lack of sleep can affect them negatively in various ways. Teens and Sleep Sleep is food for the brain, during sleep, important body functions and brain activities are occur.†¦show more content†¦For one thing, they are staying up late. A variety of things can contribute to this night-owl tendency among teens, including social life, caffeinated drinks, electronic media such as computers, TVs and cell phones. Other factors include delaying on homework, and even depression. Adolescent work schedules are also a concern. Teens who work more than 15 hours a week at a job have less time for sleep . Sleep deprivation in teens may have biological causes. Some experts believe that teens body clocks start later. Tests by a professor at Oxford suggest that Students perform better in the afternoon, because their body clock is programmed about two hours later, possibly for hormonal reasons. Refer to another study Measured the presence of the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin in teenagers saliva at different times of the day. Levels rise later at night than they do in children and adults and remain at a higher level later in the morning. Effect of Sleep Deprivation Sleep Deprivation affects teens ability to function at various situations in many ways. And it can divide in to 3 categories which are Physical effect (Immune System, Weight), psychological effect (Emotions, Memory) and social effect (Relationships) . The dangers of sleep deprivation may affect a teens’ physical well-being in several ways. Some students may not realize that adequate rest and a functioning immune system are closely related. The blood levels of