Health / Unit 3: Physical Activity and Sleep
3.5 Why Sleep Matters and How Much You Need
Notes
Sleep is when the body repairs itself and the brain stores memories.
- Teens (ages 13-18) need about 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night, according to medical experts.
- During puberty, the body clock shifts so teens feel sleepy later at night. This is natural.
- Benefits: better memory and learning, mood, immune function and athletic performance.
- Sleep deprivation (not enough sleep) can cause trouble concentrating, irritability, more accidents and weaker immune defenses.
- Sleep happens in cycles with light sleep, deep sleep and REM (dreaming) sleep.
- Example: A teen who wakes at 6:30 a.m. and wants 9 hours of sleep should go to bed around 9:30 p.m.
Practice
About how many hours of sleep do teens need each night?
Experts recommend 8-10 hours for ages 13-18.
Which is a likely effect of regularly not getting enough sleep?
Sleep loss affects focus and mood.
A student must wake at 6:00 a.m. and wants to get 9 hours of sleep. About what time should they go to sleep?
6:00 a.m. minus 9 hours is 9:00 p.m.
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