Teens and Young Adults at High Risk for Problem Sleepiness

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - June 26, 2013 - PRLog -- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have identified adolescents and young adults (ages 12 to 25 years) as a population at high risk for problem sleepiness based on "evidence that the prevalence of problem sleepiness is high and increasing with particularly serious consequences."
Unfortunately, many children start suffering from sleep problems before they reach their teens, and due to the fact that they are still developing and growing, using prescription or over the counter sleep aids is definitely not recommended.  However, they are still suffering from sleep problems that need to be solved somehow, so natural alternatives to sleep medications are necessary.
The relaxation techniques offered by audio sleep aids like Speed Sleep can be an excellent alternative to sleep drugs.  Listening to a CD or mp3 doesn’t pose the same health risks or threat of long-term dependency as medications (even seemingly benign ones like Tylenol PM), and it will actually help improve the quality of the child/teen’s sleep as well, which is something that sleep drugs simply cannot do.  In fact, an article in the New York Times even suggested that relaxation techniques and positive mental imagery can provide an excellent, long-lasting solution to sleep problems, so trying an audio sleep aid is certainly something to try if your child or teen suffers from sleep disorders.
In that article, Dr. Daniel S. Lewin, the director of the Pediatric Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, suggested “strategies like creating a quiet sleeping environment, going to bed at the same time and only when sleepy, focusing on nonstressful images, and challenging worrisome beliefs about insomnia”, particularly for teens.  He also advised parents to set a regular sleep schedule for their children (even on weekends), restrict stimulating activities before bedtime, and to develop a calming sleep routine.
With today’s children having busy schedules packed with activities, sports, and lessons of all kinds, their overall sleep debt is beginning to build at an ever-younger age.  Bedtimes are being pushed back and naps are being skipped in order to accommodate an increasing amount of school responsibilities and homework as well.  In fact, many high-achieving kids may be sacrificing sleep for academic and athletic success.
While getting enough sleep is clearly important, optimal sleep for a child’s growth also means uninterrupted sleep that is in tune with natural circadian rhythms, or the child’s internal biological clock.  Furthermore, children that have trouble sleeping should not rely on prescription medications or over-the-counter sleep drugs, since those can have a negative impact on their development and possibly lead to dependency later in life.