Two extra hours of sleep can ease teen anxiety — but don't overdo it, study warns
Getting up to two extra hours of shuteye on weekends may help teens feel less anxious, a new study found.
But if they sleep much longer than that, it could backfire, triggering more internal stress instead of relief.
'The results show that both sleeping less on weekends than weekdays and sleeping substantially more on weekends were associated with higher anxiety symptoms,' said lead researcher Sojeong Kim, a PhD candidate at the University of Oregon.
3 There's a sweet spot when it comes to sleep, experts said.
Sabphoto – stock.adobe.com
The sweet spot? Less than two hours of 'catch-up' sleep — enough to ease anxiety without throwing their internal clock out of whack.
The study — based on data from nearly 1,900 adolescents ages 12 to 15 across the U.S. — used Fitbit trackers to measure sleep and the Child Behavior Checklist, a parent-report survey that evaluates emotional and behavioral problems, to assess mood symptoms.
Dr. Wendy Troxel, a senior behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation, told The Post that while letting teens sleep in by up to two hours can offer short-term relief, snoozing much longer than that risks triggering 'social jetlag' — a disruption to their sleep cycle that makes it harder to fall asleep Sunday night and sets them up for a groggy school week.
Experts say the findings reflect a broader teen sleep crisis in the U.S.
3 Early school start times is a barrier to teens getting much needed sleep.
D Lahoud/peopleimages.com – stock.adobe.com
'We have a dire epidemic of sleep deficits in young people,' said Dr. Rachel Widome, an epidemiologist and professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. 'Most adolescents do not get enough sleep on school nights.'
Only 23% of U.S. teens get the recommended 8 to 10 hours, according to the CDC. Most now average just six or seven — a drop tied to anxiety, chronic absences, poor decision-making and risky behavior.
Troxel said teens struggle to get enough sleep due to factors like increased caffeine intake, screen use and busy schedules — but called early school start times 'one of the most significant barriers.'
3 Only 23% of U.S. teens get the recommended 8 to 10 hours, according to the CDC. Most now average just six or seven.
StockPhotoPro – stock.adobe.com
Widome and Dr. Shelby Harris, a psychologist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, said shifting school start times to 8:30 — the minimum recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics — could help 'combat' the crisis, adding that biological changes during puberty make early start times especially brutal.
'This study highlights the need overall for more sleep for our teens,' Harris told The Post. 'Schools start far too early for the vast majority of them when their biology has a natural shift in their circadian rhythm to go to bed later and wake up later.'
The findings were published in an online version of the journal Sleep and presented at SLEEP 2025, an annual conference hosted by the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, a joint initiative of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Family poisoned by swanky NYC's apartment's hidden mold, with child covered in painful pus-filled blotches: lawsuit
A family of four was poisoned by their Upper West Side apartment's hidden mold – with one child left covered in pus-filled blotches that had him screaming in pain, a new lawsuit claimed. British-born photographer Jae Donnelly said he first raised concerns about a possible mold infestation in his two-bedroom apartment in the luxe Sessanta high-rise on West 60th Street in January 2024 — but management refused to make repairs to stop the spores from spreading, according to the suit. 'I've never been around people like this in my life that showed total disregard for the health of my family, and it was appalling and really upsetting,' Donnelly told The Post last week. 'And my children were just expected to put up with all of this. It was heartbreaking.' Advertisement The toxic mold was exposed in the building, where some rents top $5,000, when a handyman came to fix a leak in January 2024, Donnelly said. Workers cut out and replaced a section of wall and flooring but never did a proper mold test despite his protests, he said. 7 Jae Donnelly The complaint, filed last month in Manhattan Supreme Court, also accused Align Management of not ensuring the leak was properly fixed, leading to mold to spread throughout the family's home. Advertisement The building owners and management 'were negligent and reckless causing the Plaintiffs to sustain serious personal injuries as a result of prolonged exposure to mold,' the lawsuit said. 'We were treated so despicably,' said Donnelly, whose work has appeared in The Post. Unwittingly living in a toxic environment, Donnelly said he, his Julliard-trained cellist wife and their two young children, now ages 10 and 2, suffered from a myriad of inexplicable health issues, including allergies, chest pains, vertigo and fatigue so intense that it often kept their school-aged daughter home. And his then-infant son's buttocks and genitalia were covered in pustules, pus-filled patches of bumps on his skin that left him screaming, he said. Advertisement Sessanta's management company did not reply to a message left with their corporate office. The 27-story high-rise – where a 471-square-foot studio is currently listed at $3,895 a month and includes luxurious touches like walnut floors, maple cabinets and Italian porcelain bathroom tiles – was built in 2007. 7 Jae Donnelly alleged he, his wife and their two young children were sickened by mold caused by a leak in their Upper West Side apartment. Courtesy of Jae Donnelly Yet another leak prompted workers to return to the apartment 11 months later, when they at first blamed a drippy dishwasher until they pulled the family couch away from the wall, according to Donnelly. Advertisement That's when they found 'mold bubbling away on the surface of the wall and all down the back of the couch,' Donnelly said, who later tossed the sofa entirely. Donnelly said mold had spread throughout their walls, floors and all over the kitchen — including the cabinets where they kept their cookware. 7 Black mold had spread all over the Donnellys' apartment, including under the sink. Jae Donnelly Huge sections of sheetrock were cut out of the walls, but no measures were taken to block the dust and mold from covering the apartment, Donnelly recalled. 'This was at the height of my wife breastfeeding,' he said. 'They brought in a fan to try and dry it, and that blew all the sheetrock dust and insulation fibers everywhere in the apartment — all over my son's milk sterilization stuff.' The building's own mold assessor deemed the problem solved, Donnelly alleged. 7 Mold was found growing along the walls behind the family's couch. Jae Donnelly 'They fought me on everything,' said the dad of two, who called a lawyer and brought in another inspector. Advertisement His own testing found huge elevations of mold, including toxic Stachybotrys and Chaetomium spores, he said. Weeks later, maintenance workers cut a hole in the apartment wall where Donnelly said his newly purchased moisture meter was detecting water. Once they looked in the hole, the workers got very hushed, Donnelly recalled. 7 Workers cut out dry wall in the apartment but didn't protect the family's belongings, allowing toxic dust to spread everywhere, Donnelly alleged. Jae Donnelly 'In Spanish, they quietly spoke to each other,' he said, 'and I took it upon myself to put my hand in the hole and I grabbed the insulation. Advertisement 'And it was soaking wet.' Donnelly said he grew furious. 'They had not fixed it properly again. I exclaimed to all of them: 'You are playing with my children's lives.'' 7 Donnelly said toxic dust was allowed to spread all over their home, including on their piano. Jae Donnelly Advertisement Donnelly, his wife and their eldest child underwent a blood test that revealed high levels of mycotoxins – including the highly potent satratoxin, according to records reviewed by The Post. Their doctor said their 2-year-old son, who was too young to be tested, was also likely sickened with mold because mycotoxins can be passed on through breastmilk, Donnelly said. 'Unfortunately, for Jae and his family, they are suffering as a result of their landlord's failure to properly remedy the building leak when they were first notified in January of 2024,' said their attorney, Eric Malinowski. 7 Mold spread into the walls and flooring. Jae Donnelly 'The fact that the leak reoccurred and mold developed in the same area of their apartment 11 months later is proof that the building and their management company failed to properly address the situation.' Advertisement The ordeal forced Donnelly, who called New York City his home for two decades, and his family to move out in May – and back to his native UK. 'Life was rosy before this happened,' he said. 'The sun was shining, and we didn't expect it to rain.'
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cardiologists Swear by This Nightly Habit To Reduce Hypertension
Cardiologists Swear by This Nightly Habit To Reduce Hypertension originally appeared on Parade. According to Million Hearts, nearly half of adults (119.9M) have hypertension, which is categorized as a blood pressure of 140/90 or higher. And of that number, only about one in four of them have it under control, according to the CDC. If you have hypertension, then it's likely your doctor has either prescribed lifestyle changes, medication or perhaps a combination of both to lower your blood pressure to a healthier range. Speaking of lifestyle changes, nighttime habits can fall into that category and can potentially make a difference in your blood pressure. Ahead, we spoke with cardiologists about a nightly habit they swear by to reduce hypertension. Hint: you may already be doing it. 🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊 According to , an interventional cardiologist and regional chief medical officer at VitalSolution and Ingenovis Health, when it comes to reducing hypertension, it can be incredibly helpful to focus on sleep hygiene. "A consistent nightly routine, especially focusing on sleep hygiene, can make a significant difference," Dr. Kalra says. "Sleep plays a crucial role in regulating stress hormones like cortisol and the body's ability to manage these hormones is compromised when sleep-deprived, which can lead to elevated blood pressure." Related: Aside from elevating blood pressure, Dr. Kalra adds that insufficient sleep can also impact other lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise, which can further pose a potential risk to cardiovascular health. According to the National Institute of Health, adults are recommended to get between seven and nine hours of sleep per night. If you're getting less than that, then you're not only putting yourself at risk for hypertension, but also memory issues, headaches, slow reaction times, fatigue, daytime sleepiness, anxiety and depression. Here's how to improve your sleep hygiene: One of the simplest but most effective sleep hygiene rules is to keep your bedroom cool and dark. Our bodies naturally lower in temperature as we fall asleep, so a cooler environment can help signal to your brain that it's time to rest. Darkness is important too: Exposure to light can suppress melatonin production (the hormone that regulates your sleep-wake cycle). Blackout curtains, eye masks and dimming lights an hour before bed can all make a big difference. Dr. Mohanakrishnan Sathyamoorthy, MD, a board-certified cardiologist and chair of internal medicine at Burnett School of Medicine at TCU, says engaging in calming activities before bed may help you get more restful sleep. "Reading a book, listening to calming music, and trying to avoid phone use at bedtime will help ensure not only a good night's sleep, but may have a beneficial and positive impact on blood pressure," Dr. Sathyamoorthy tells Parade. "All of these interventions work by reducing what we call the sympathetic nervous system and help accentuate parasympathetic function which is the resting side of the central nervous system." When it comes to reducing hypertension, the cardiologists we spoke with noted how important it is to watch what you're eating and drinking. For starters, Dr. Kalra recommends steering clear of alcohol and nicotine, especially before bedtime. "Nighttime alcohol can acutely increase nocturnal heart rate, disrupt autonomic regulation and raise morning blood pressure," he says. Aside from alcohol, you'll want to avoid eating heavy meals at night, especially those with high-fat and high-sodium levels as these can disrupt sleep and negatively impact blood pressure. Related: If you're on blood pressure medication, then you'll want to make sure you take it as prescribed, especially if it's an evening medicine. "We cardiologists recommend taking at least one prescribed antihypertensive medication at bedtime rather than in the morning," says Dr. Kalra. "This approach, known as "chronotherapy," is supported by evidence from large randomized trials such as the Hygia Chronotherapy Trial, which demonstrated that bedtime dosing of antihypertensive medications leads to better nocturnal blood pressure control and a significant reduction in major cardiovascular events compared to morning dosing." If sleeplessness is a persistent issue for you, it could be worth it to see a sleep medicine some cases, there might be an underlying issue contributing to your lack of sleep such as restless leg syndrome, insomnia, or sleep apnea. "If you snore loudly or feel excessively tired during the day, talk to your cardiologist about the possibility of sleep apnea, a condition that can negatively impact blood pressure," says Dr. Kalra. Related:Why You Keep Waking Up in the Middle of the Night—and What Your Body's Trying To Tell You While getting into a sleep hygiene routine may help reduce hypertension, it may not be enough for some people. , board-certified cardiologist and director of clinical cardiology and prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health, says if your blood pressure regularly runs above 130/80 or you're experiencing symptoms like fatigue, vision changes or headaches, then it's time to see a doctor. Up Next:Dr. Andrew M. Freeman, MD, board-certified cardiologist and director of clinical cardiology and prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health Dr. Mohanakrishnan Sathyamoorthy, MD, board-certified cardiologist and chair of internal medicine at Burnett School of Medicine at TCU Dr. Nishant Kalra, MD, an interventional cardiologist and regional chief medical officer at VitalSolution and Ingenovis Health Cardiologists Swear by This Nightly Habit To Reduce Hypertension first appeared on Parade on Jul 5, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Cardiologists Swear by This Nightly Habit To Reduce Hypertension
Cardiologists Swear by This Nightly Habit To Reduce Hypertension originally appeared on Parade. According to Million Hearts, nearly half of adults (119.9M) have hypertension, which is categorized as a blood pressure of 140/90 or higher. And of that number, only about one in four of them have it under control, according to the CDC. If you have hypertension, then it's likely your doctor has either prescribed lifestyle changes, medication or perhaps a combination of both to lower your blood pressure to a healthier range. Speaking of lifestyle changes, nighttime habits can fall into that category and can potentially make a difference in your blood pressure. Ahead, we spoke with cardiologists about a nightly habit they swear by to reduce hypertension. Hint: you may already be doing it. 🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊 According to , an interventional cardiologist and regional chief medical officer at VitalSolution and Ingenovis Health, when it comes to reducing hypertension, it can be incredibly helpful to focus on sleep hygiene. "A consistent nightly routine, especially focusing on sleep hygiene, can make a significant difference," Dr. Kalra says. "Sleep plays a crucial role in regulating stress hormones like cortisol and the body's ability to manage these hormones is compromised when sleep-deprived, which can lead to elevated blood pressure." Related: Aside from elevating blood pressure, Dr. Kalra adds that insufficient sleep can also impact other lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise, which can further pose a potential risk to cardiovascular health. According to the National Institute of Health, adults are recommended to get between seven and nine hours of sleep per night. If you're getting less than that, then you're not only putting yourself at risk for hypertension, but also memory issues, headaches, slow reaction times, fatigue, daytime sleepiness, anxiety and depression. Here's how to improve your sleep hygiene: One of the simplest but most effective sleep hygiene rules is to keep your bedroom cool and dark. Our bodies naturally lower in temperature as we fall asleep, so a cooler environment can help signal to your brain that it's time to rest. Darkness is important too: Exposure to light can suppress melatonin production (the hormone that regulates your sleep-wake cycle). Blackout curtains, eye masks and dimming lights an hour before bed can all make a big difference. Dr. Mohanakrishnan Sathyamoorthy, MD, a board-certified cardiologist and chair of internal medicine at Burnett School of Medicine at TCU, says engaging in calming activities before bed may help you get more restful sleep. "Reading a book, listening to calming music, and trying to avoid phone use at bedtime will help ensure not only a good night's sleep, but may have a beneficial and positive impact on blood pressure," Dr. Sathyamoorthy tells Parade. "All of these interventions work by reducing what we call the sympathetic nervous system and help accentuate parasympathetic function which is the resting side of the central nervous system." When it comes to reducing hypertension, the cardiologists we spoke with noted how important it is to watch what you're eating and drinking. For starters, Dr. Kalra recommends steering clear of alcohol and nicotine, especially before bedtime. "Nighttime alcohol can acutely increase nocturnal heart rate, disrupt autonomic regulation and raise morning blood pressure," he says. Aside from alcohol, you'll want to avoid eating heavy meals at night, especially those with high-fat and high-sodium levels as these can disrupt sleep and negatively impact blood pressure. Related: If you're on blood pressure medication, then you'll want to make sure you take it as prescribed, especially if it's an evening medicine. "We cardiologists recommend taking at least one prescribed antihypertensive medication at bedtime rather than in the morning," says Dr. Kalra. "This approach, known as "chronotherapy," is supported by evidence from large randomized trials such as the Hygia Chronotherapy Trial, which demonstrated that bedtime dosing of antihypertensive medications leads to better nocturnal blood pressure control and a significant reduction in major cardiovascular events compared to morning dosing." If sleeplessness is a persistent issue for you, it could be worth it to see a sleep medicine some cases, there might be an underlying issue contributing to your lack of sleep such as restless leg syndrome, insomnia, or sleep apnea. "If you snore loudly or feel excessively tired during the day, talk to your cardiologist about the possibility of sleep apnea, a condition that can negatively impact blood pressure," says Dr. Kalra. Related:Why You Keep Waking Up in the Middle of the Night—and What Your Body's Trying To Tell You While getting into a sleep hygiene routine may help reduce hypertension, it may not be enough for some people. , board-certified cardiologist and director of clinical cardiology and prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health, says if your blood pressure regularly runs above 130/80 or you're experiencing symptoms like fatigue, vision changes or headaches, then it's time to see a doctor. Up Next:Dr. Andrew M. Freeman, MD, board-certified cardiologist and director of clinical cardiology and prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health Dr. Mohanakrishnan Sathyamoorthy, MD, board-certified cardiologist and chair of internal medicine at Burnett School of Medicine at TCU Dr. Nishant Kalra, MD, an interventional cardiologist and regional chief medical officer at VitalSolution and Ingenovis Health Cardiologists Swear by This Nightly Habit To Reduce Hypertension first appeared on Parade on Jul 5, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
