Insomnia and lack of sleep linked to high blood pressure in teens

Teen Sleep and Heart Health New Study Findings

Introduction A recent study presented at the American Heart Association Epidemiology Prevention Lifestyle & Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions 2025 in New Orleans shows that teens who dont get enough sleep may be at a higher risk for high blood pressure. The research highlights how sleep can affect heart health, especially in teenagers.

Why Sleep Is Important for Teens Teenagers need about 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night, according to experts. But many high school students only get around 6.5 hours of sleep on school nights. Lack of sleep is a known risk for heart disease which causes more deaths in the U.S. than cancer and lung disease combined.

The Study Measuring Sleep and Blood Pressure The research team studied over 400 teenagers to see how sleep affects blood pressure.

1. Insomnia and Short Sleep Teens who said they had trouble sleeping insomnia and slept less than 7.7 hours in the study were five times more likely to have high blood pressure than those who got enough sleep and didnt have insomnia.

1. 2. Short Sleep Without Insomnia Teens who slept less than 7.7 hours but didn’t have insomnia were almost three times more likely to have high blood pressure compared to those who got enough sleep.

3. Insomnia but Enough Sleep Teens who had insomnia but still slept enough 7.7 hours or more didnt show a higher risk for high blood pressure. This suggests that both insomnia and not getting enough sleep together are worse for heart health than just lack of sleep alone.

Why Insomnia and Sleep Matter for Teens

Dr. Julio Fernandez Mendoza the studies senior author said that while we know disturbed and short sleep can lead to high blood pressure in adults we still dont know much about how this affects teens. The study shows that monitoring sleep habits in teenagers could help identify those at risk for heart problems as they get older.

Sleep and Heart Health A Bigger Picture The research supports the idea that improving sleep habits can help improve heart health. The American Heart Association includes getting enough sleep as part of its Life Essential 8, which also focuses on eating healthy, staying active not smoking and managing blood pressure.

Insights from the Researchers The first author of the study Axel Robinson, a 17 year old high school senior shared that he has struggled with insomnia for years. After learning more about the problem, he was able to overcome it and now wants to help other teens with sleep issues.

Study Details The study included 421 teenagers, with an average age of 16.5 years, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. About 35% of the teens said they had trouble sleeping (insomnia), and 50% slept less than the recommended 7.7 hours during the study. The data was collected between 2010 and 2013, and the analysis was done between 2023 and 2024.

Expert Advice on Sleep Hygiene Dr. Brooke Aggarwal, an expert in heart health, explained that sleep problems during the teen years often continue into adulthood and can increase the risk of heart disease. She suggests practicing good sleep habits like having a relaxing bedtime routine, avoiding electronics before bed, not eating heavy meals or drinking caffeine late at night, and staying active during the day.

Daylight Saving Time and Sleep Daylight saving time starts on March 9, 2025, and experts warn that changing the clocks can disrupt sleep patterns. Parents and teens are encouraged to plan ahead to ensure they get enough sleep during this time change.