A recent study reveals that teens who struggle with falling or staying asleep and receive less sleep than their peers are significantly more likely to experience high blood pressure. The research indicates that these teenagers have a fivefold increased risk of developing seriously high blood pressure. Those who slept less than 7.7 hours, even without insomnia, still faced nearly triple the risk compared to their more rested counterparts. However, teens with insomnia who managed to sleep at least 7.7 hours, the median sleep time for the study group, did not show an increased risk for high blood pressure.
Dr. Julio Fernandez-Mendoza, who led the study, expressed surprise at the substantial impact of insomnia combined with reduced sleep duration on the likelihood of high blood pressure among adolescents. He noted that this level of hypertension is something pediatricians and cardiologists would consider essential to treat. Fernandez-Mendoza, head of the behavioral sleep medicine program at Penn State Health Sleep Research and Treatment Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, emphasized the importance of identifying and treating sleep issues in adolescents to safeguard their heart health.
The study breaks new ground by focusing on teenagers, as previous research connected sleep problems and cardiovascular issues mainly in adults. Most existing studies on adolescent sleep problems have concentrated on behavioral and mental health impacts. Fernandez-Mendoza noted that untreated or undetected high blood pressure heightens the risk of severe health issues such as heart attacks and strokes, as it damages blood vessels by causing them to narrow through plaque accumulation.
The study’s findings were disclosed this week at the American Heart Association’s conference in New Orleans, though they are categorized as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. The rising awareness of sleep’s role in adolescent health highlights concerns around school start times and technology use at night. Leading health organizations advocate for teenagers aged 13-18 to get between eight to ten hours of sleep nightly for optimal health.
Fernandez-Mendoza highlighted that insomnia affects nearly one-third of adolescents, with 14% experiencing chronic issues that disrupt sleep multiple times a week for several months. Axel Robinson, a high school senior and lead author of the study, shared his long-standing struggle with insomnia and need for therapy to manage it. He observed that his peers without insomnia often stay up late to complete homework, which impacts their sleep.
The research involved 421 adolescents around 16 years old from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, who participated in a nine-hour overnight study. Participants with insomnia reported difficulty falling or staying asleep without specifying frequency or duration. Those sleeping less than 7.7 hours and experiencing insomnia were five times more likely to have Stage 2 hypertension than those who slept longer.
Dr. Sarah Honaker, a pediatric associate professor, remarked on the study’s significance in showing the cardiovascular impact of insomnia and insufficient sleep among otherwise healthy teens. According to Honaker, this underscores the importance of later school start times to align with adolescents’ natural sleep rhythms.
Previous research in the Penn State Child Cohort indicated higher stress hormones and inflammation among those with insomnia and short sleep duration, markers of cardiovascular diseases. However, those with insomnia but adequate sleep did not exhibit these physiological signs, suggesting their issues may stem from emotional or behavioral factors.
Fernandez-Mendoza hopes the study encourages teens and parents to address sleep difficulties with medical professionals. He urges that sleep problems not be dismissed as a typical aspect of adolescent life, emphasizing the importance of seeking help for better health outcomes.
