Teenagers have many things to worry about, school, friends, etc… and so it's no
wonder that sleep disorders are becoming commonplace, however, sleep disorders
can also stem from too much stimulation before bedtime. Many teens are involved
with sports, music and other things that keep them up many nights. When the
weekend comes, they crash, often sleeping in, which messes up their sleep schedule.
Once school resumes, they get sleep again, and so the never-ending cycle. Ideally, teens need at least eight to nine and half hours of sleep and eighty five percent are getting less than eight and half hours.
As many as 30 percent of teens have a sleep disorder, so the sooner you talk to your teen and your doctor, the better.
Types of Sleep Disorders Teens Suffer From
There are many sleep disorders teens suffer from. One in particular is called a delay
sleep phase syndrome. This disorder stems from the many changes in the body's
internal clock, associated with puberty, meaning it is normal to be a night owl, when your family is ready to hit the sack. It also means wanting to sleep in later in the
morning. It is difficult to change this pattern, and so teens end up sleep-deprived,
and not getting the required hours of sleep needed to perform at their best.
Sleep apnea is a more serious sleep disorder, in which teens can literally stop
breathing at night, making them exhausted during the day. A tell-tale sign of sleep
apnea is if the teen is falling asleep in school, constant yawning and snoring. It is
usually caused by a blockage in the throat, nose or mouth, with breathing stopping.
Other symptoms of Insomnia include:
- Difficulty getting to sleep (taking more than 45 minutes to fall asleep)
- Frequent awakenings with inability to fall back to sleep
- Early morning awakening
- Feeling very tired after a night of sleep
Insomnia is not usually a problem, unless it interferes with school and other
activities. If you got to sleep late and still wake up early and feel rested, there
shouldn't be a problem. Occasional insomnia may be caused by noise, illness, a
change in your sleep patterns, such as when you're on vacation, jet lag or extreme
temperatures changes, and stress.
Short term insomnia may last from a few nights to a few weeks and usually resolves
after the event has passed. Long term insomnia can last for months, even years,
may be caused by depression, chronic illness or pain medications and asthma. More
serious causes could be coronary heart disease, alcohol or drug abuse withdrawal.
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder with distinct symptoms. They include:
- Sudden sleep attacks, which may occur with any type of activity. You may fall asleep at dinner, watching TV, or at some event. These sleep attacks can occur anytime, anywhere, and cause major problems, especially if you fall asleep while driving a car.
- Sudden, brief periods of muscle weakness, affecting any part of your body. This symptom can involve different muscle groups, or may affect the entire body.
- Hallucinations just before a sleep attack
- Brief loss of the ability to move limbs when just getting up or falling asleep
Parasomnias are undesirable muscle activity that occurs when during sleep, affecting
skeletal muscle activity, nervous system changes or both. Night terrors and sleep
walking are types of Parasomnias. While asleep, a person with a parasomnia may wake up screaming, eat off foods or walk around. These types of sleep disorders can cause dangerous situations and have no known cause; however, they are usually treatable.
Restless Legs Syndrome is another sleep disorder than can keep teens up, not only
because it is annoying, but because the legs literally are restless. The legs may
twitch, ache or you may experience deep discomfort. The exact cause of Restless Legs Syndrome is unknown, and usually occurs when a person is falling asleep, which makes it difficult to sleep.
What to do if you or Your Teen has a Sleep Disorder
Fortunately, sleep disorders in teens can be resolved with minimal treatment. In
regards to puberty related sleep disorders, often the problem will go away on its
own. If the sleep disorder is caused from insomnia, the best steps would be to, first,
check with your teen about any stress she/he may be experiencing. Sometimes, just
having someone to talk to you about bothersome things will help teens.
Other things that help would be to limit stimulating activities right before bed time.
In needed, extra circular activities can be changed or halted, putting limits on watching TV or playing video games or music can alter a teens sleep schedule, helping them to get back on track.
In the case of sleep apnea, speaking with your doctor and letting them know about
your teens symptoms can help in diagnosing sleep apnea. If your teen does have it,
there is a special mask that can help the child continue breathing. Most of the time, getting the right diagnosis and doctor can speed up treatment and let your teen, and you, get much-needed sleep.
