|  | Conditions Treatments | Sleep Disorders

Teen Sleeping Issues

Teens are more likely to have some sleep problems because of their age, such as insomnia, nightmares and delayed sleep phase syndrome. Other conditions, such as narcolepsy and restless legs syndrome, are not more common among teenagers, but the symptoms may be more likely to first appear during teen years. Sleep deprivation is a serious issue that can affect every aspect of your life, and therefore if you or your teen experiences exhaustion or appears to be struggling to stay awake, you should address the problem immediately.

  1. Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome

    • During the teen years, the body's circadian rhythm is reset, meaning the body's biological clock changes to cause teens to go to sleep later at night and wake up later in the day. Sometimes, this change causes a delay in the sleep-wake cycle so severe that it interrupts the ability to function normally when awake, a condition called delayed sleep phase syndrome.

    Insomnia

    • Insomnia is a condition experienced by people of all ages, but the main causes are stress, emotional problems or physical discomfort. For an adolescent dealing with peer pressure, physical growing pains and the trials of teenhood, these can be severe, so many teens struggle with chronic insomnia. If the teen's insomnia lasts for a month or longer, it is considered chronic, and he or she should see a doctor as soon as possible.

    Nightmares

    • Nightmares are common among teens, again caused by stress, anxiety or emotional distress. If nightmares occur occasionally, that is normal. Frequent nightmares, however, can awaken someone throughout the night and disrupt the sleep cycle on a regular basis. If this is occurring, seek medical help; nightmares can be addressed by a doctor or therapist, depending on the cause.

    Narcolepsy

    • This is not commonly diagnosed in teenagers, but the symptoms are most likely to appear between the ages 10 and 25, and many teens with this disorder go undiagnosed every year. If you or your child is sleepy during the day and experiences "sleep attacks"--falling asleep without warning and sometimes seeing vivid, dreamlike images when awake or dozing--this is a red flag and should be addressed immediately.

    Restless Legs Syndrome

    • Restless legs syndrome is diagnosed when a person consistently experiences feeling in his legs that forces him to move around throughout the night. This may begin to be a problem between the ages of 11 and 20 and is linked with "periodic leg movements of sleep." PLMS is when you experience involuntary leg movements during sleep.

    Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

    • Some teens suffer from GERD, which results when the muscular valve between the esophagus and the gastric system does not work properly and allows stomach acid into the esophagus. This causes inflammation and can interrupt sleep.

    Sleep Apnea

    • When there is a severe narrowing of your airways during deep sleep and your lungs are not getting enough air, your body wakes you from that deep sleep so you will catch your breath in a way that unlocks the air passage. This is not an obvious condition, as you are not consciously aware of what is going on, so if you or your teen is experiencing excessive sleepiness for no clear reason, sleep apnea could be the cause.

Sleep Disorders - Related Articles