A new study finds that teenagers, who often lack sleep, are more likely to develop risky behaviors such as physical inactivity, alcoholic consumption, cigarette smoking, fighting, and sexual promiscuity. These risky behaviors often result in unintentional injuries or accidents.
Lack Of Sleep Triggers Bad Behavior
U.S. health officials reported Thursday that a new study of more than 50,000 students found that teens with less than seven hours of sleep are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, CBS News reports. According to lead researcher Anne Wheaton, an epidemiologist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "The failure of most high school students to get sufficient sleep may put them at increased risk for unintentional injuries."
Sleep deprivation is the same as being drunk says new study https://t.co/Fe1RgPlEZ6 pic.twitter.com/5ETQC9jpEP
— Yahoo (@Yahoo) April 8, 2016
Sleep Foundation enumerates risky behaviors associated with sleep deprivation: (1) Drinking unhealthy; beverages more than once a day; (2) Inactivity in most days of the week; (3) Using computers more than three hours each day; (4) Physical violence once or more; (5) Smoking cigarettes and marijuana; (6) Drinking alcohol; (7) Sexual engagements; (8) Depression, or a feeling of sadness and hopelessness; (9) Suicidal thoughts and tendencies.
According to CDC, around 70 percent of teens reported not getting the recommended 8 hours of sleep. Meanwhile, students who reported sleeping more than 10 hours a night were found to have the same risky behaviors.
Those who sleep too much often make up their lack of sleep in the past days. So in short, these are also teens, which lack hours of sleep. Too much sleep is linked to increased risk of depression and other medical conditions.
Heightened Risks
A previous report by Parent Herald highlighted the heightened risk of drunk-driving and other unsafe driving practices such as texting while driving, not using the seat belts, and riding with a drunk driver. Among adolescents, more than 60 percent of fatalities are related to vehicular accidents.
Dr. Lela McKnight-Elly from the Division of Adult and Community Health calls for urgent public health intervention to address the issue. She suggested delaying school start times, at least, an hour later that what we currently have.
Meanwhile, Dr. Alon Avidan, director of the UCLA Sleep Disorders Center in Los Angeles, suggests cutting afternoon caffeine and cutting nap during day time. Avidan also highly recommends maintaining a regular sleeping schedule with a minimum of eight hours each night. For more tips on how to have a good night sleep, check out the video below:
