What does my teenager need to know about getting enough sleep?
Most teenagers require eight and a half to nine hours of sleep each night. Signs they may need more sleep include difficulty waking in the morning, inability to concentrate, falling asleep during class and moodiness or depression. Motivate teens by letting them know that poor sleep habits equate to poorer grades and sports performance, and that drowsy teens don’t look their best. Like all of us, they’ll sleep better with a regular bedtime, regular exercise, avoidance of caffeinated beverages after 4 p.m., not napping too much, and a bedroom that is dark and slightly on the cool side.
Peter Fotinakes, M.D., is board certified in neurology and sleep medicine. He has focused his practice on sleep medicine since 1988 and, since 2002, has served as Medical Director of the Sleep Disorders Center at St. Joseph Hospital.
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