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continued:

Teen sleep: Why is your teen so tired?

Resetting the clock

Parent groups and others are lobbying school systems to start the school day later to be more in synch with teenagers' internal clocks. In the meantime — or as long as your teen has early classes or commitments — there are a few things that you can try to help your teen get enough sleep:

  • Adjust the lighting. As bedtime approaches, dim the lights. Then turn off the lights during sleep. In the morning, expose your teen to bright light. These simple cues can help signal when it's time to sleep and when it's time to wake up.
  • Stick to a schedule. Tough as it may be, encourage your teen to go to bed and get up at the same time every day — even on weekends. Prioritize extracurricular activities and curb late-night social time as needed. If your teen has a job, limit working hours to no more than 16 to 20 hours a week.
  • Nix long naps. If your teen is drowsy during the day, a 30-minute nap after school might be refreshing. Be cautious, though. Too much daytime shut-eye might only make it harder to fall asleep at night.
  • Curb the caffeine. A jolt of caffeine might help your teen stay awake during class, but the effects are fleeting — and too much caffeine can interfere with a good night's sleep.
  • Keep it calm. Encourage your teen to wind down at night with a warm shower, a book or other relaxing activities. Discourage stimulating activities — including vigorous exercise, loud music, video games, television, computer use and text messaging — an hour or two before bedtime.
  • Know when to unplug. Take the TV out of your teen's room, or keep it off at night. The same goes for your teen's cellphone, computer and other electronic gadgets.

Sleeping pills and other medications generally aren't recommended. For many teens, lifestyle changes can effectively improve sleep.

Is it something else?

In some cases, excessive daytime sleepiness can be a sign of something more than a problem with your teen's internal clock. Other problems can include:

  • Medication side effects. Many medications — including over-the-counter cold and allergy medications and prescription medications to treat depression and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder — can disrupt sleep.
  • Insomnia or biological clock disturbance. If your teen has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, he or she is likely to struggle with daytime sleepiness.
  • Depression. Sleeping too much or too little is a common sign of depression.
  • Obstructive sleep apnea. When throat muscles fall slack during sleep, they stop air from moving freely through the nose and windpipe. This can interfere with breathing and disrupt sleep. You might notice loud snoring or intermittent pauses in breathing, often followed by snorting and more snoring.
  • Restless legs syndrome. This condition causes a "creepy" sensation in the legs and an irresistible urge to move the legs, usually shortly after going to bed. The discomfort and movement can interrupt sleep.
  • Narcolepsy. Sudden daytime sleep, usually for only short periods of time, can be a sign of narcolepsy. Narcoleptic episodes can occur at any time — even in the middle of a conversation. Sudden attacks of muscle weakness in response to emotions such as laughter, anger or surprise are possible, too.

If you're concerned about your teen's daytime sleepiness or sleep habits, contact his or her doctor. If your teen is depressed or has a sleep disorder, proper treatment can be the key to a good night's sleep.

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References
  1. Moore M, et al. The sleepy adolescent: Causes and consequences of sleepiness in teens. Paediatric Respiratory Reviews. 2008;9:114.
  2. Millman R. Excessive sleepiness in adolescents and young adults: Causes, consequences, and treatment strategies. Pediatrics. 2005;115:1774.
  3. Crowley SJ, et al. Sleep, circadian rhythms, and delayed phase in adolescence. Sleep Medicine. 2007;8:602.
  4. Noland H, et al. Adolescents' sleep behaviors and perceptions of sleep. Journal of School Health. 2009;79:224.
  5. Findlay SM. The tired teen: A review of the assessment and management of the adolescent with sleepiness and fatigue. Paediatrics and Child Health. 2008;13:37.
  6. Calamaro CJ, et al. Adolescents living the 24/7 lifestyle: Effects of caffeine and technology on sleep duration and daytime functioning. Pediatrics. 2009;123:e1005.
  7. Bonin L. Depression in adolescents: Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 31, 2011.
  8. Danner F, et al. Adolescent sleep, school start times, and teen motor vehicle crashes. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2008;4:533.
  9. Kotagal S (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 17, 2011.
  10. Wahlstrom K. School start time and sleepy teens [Editorial]. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. 2010;16: 676.
CC00019 March 20, 2013

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