| Featured Research  Technology and Caffeine in Teens: How the 24/7 Lifestyle Adds Up to Subtract Sleep
Teens need a lot of sleep – optimally at least 9 hours a night. Yet adolescents have to contend with early school start times, homework, and social activities. New research shows computers, televisions, cellular telephones, portable music devices and other electronic devices now also compete for the waking hours of teens. The resulting sleep deficits may put this caffeinated, highly-connected generation at greater risk for physical and mental health problems, impaired academic performance, and automobile accidents. Explore a summary of the research study Tip Sheet We Can!™ Tips to Reduce Screen Time Screens are everywhere these days, including our living rooms, our cars, and our pockets. Every day kids ages 8-18 spend on average about 4 hours watching TV or videos, more than an hour on the computer, and about 50 minutes playing video games. That totals almost 6 hours a day in front of a screen! Extensive screen time can leave kids (and adults) sleep deprived, reduce physical activity levels, and increase eating. The light exposure from electronic displays, such as those on computers and cellular phones, may delay melatonin release and affect the sleep-wake cycle. The combination of sleep deprivation and less than optimal eating and activity habits increases the risk for a wide variety of health conditions. The NHLBI We Can!™ campaign has several tips to help reduce screen time to promote a healthier lifestyle. Get tips to wean the screen NHLBI Diseases and Conditions Index (DCI) Insomnia Insomnia is a common condition in which individuals have trouble falling or staying asleep. This condition can range from mild to severe, depending on how often it occurs and for how long. Insomnia can be chronic (ongoing) or acute (short-term). Chronic insomnia means having symptoms at least three nights a week for more than a month. Acute insomnia lasts for less time. Some people who have insomnia may have trouble falling asleep. Other people may fall asleep easily but wake up too soon. Others may have trouble with both falling asleep and staying asleep. As a result, insomnia may cause individuals to get too little sleep or have poor-quality sleep. The NHLBI Diseases and Conditions Index serves as a medically-reviewed, up-to-date resource on sleep disorders, including insomnia. Learn all about insomnia
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Your Guide to Healthy Sleep
This patient and public booklet provides the latest science-based information about sleep. |
We Can! ™ Resources to Help Reduce Screen Time
Useful, evidence-based materials and information to help families and communities reduce screen time. | ™ We Can! is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. |
