Teenagers 'need good quality sleep to avoid health problems'

A sleep study carried out at an American University has shown that quality of sleep is important for good health, the KYpost reports.

The research revealed that the odds of having elevated blood pressure in teenagers was 3.5 times greater for those adolescents who had trouble falling asleep or staying asleep and 2.5 time greater for those who slept for less than 6.5 hours a night.

Lead researcher Susan Redline said: "Our study underscores the high rate of poor quality and inadequate sleep in adolescence coupled with the risk of developing high blood pressure."

Dr Redline found that 26 per cent of the 238 teenagers who took part in the study experienced poor sleep.

She put this down to the "technological invasion of the bedroom", with youngsters texting or listening to music when they should be sleeping.

For youngsters who struggle to sleep even when they are not distracted by computer games, televisions and mobile phones, changing the mattress may help.

Vi Spring and Tempur mattresses provide a high level of support and can help people to improve their quality of sleep.

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