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The Effects Of Sleep Deprivation On Adolescents

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Recent studies have found that for each hour of sleep lost by teenagers, their chances of depression increase by 38 percent. The consequences of sleep deprivation have been given more attention in recent years, along with the outcry from parents, educators, and students alike to take action against school hours that limit their opportunities to obtain a full night’s sleep. This essay will analyze the consequences sleep deprivation has on adolescents both mentally and physically, and how those consequences may turn into long-term health issues, what teachers and parents can do to help the situation, as well as look at attempts at awareness and possible legislative solutions for the issue. The consequences that follow lack of sleep have dramatic effects on the quality-of-life of a person. Adolescents have a natural body clock that lead them to stay up late, and wake up late, but right now, they are going to sleep later and later, and waking up earlier. This unbalance in their sleep schedules is mainly due to their demanding school schedules that the majority of the time are not very forgiving. Research shows that consistent lack of sleep has a serious effect on an adolescent’s mood and behavior, results show that drowsiness has similar reactions to the body as excessive amount of alcohol (Williamson). This results in teenagers putting themselves and others at risk when they drive, or do things that are potentially dangerous, they are at risk of not having complete control of

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