A new study has found a link between sleeping less than the recommended time and high blood pressure. Researchers found that children who slept late were more likely to have high blood pressure. Also, the more children did not adhere to the recommended levels, the more likely they were to experience high blood pressure during the day.
Lack of sleep may cause high blood pressure in children
A recent study found that children and teens may be at higher risk of developing cancer. high blood pressure If they get fewer hours of sleep. The study was published in Pediatrics on Wednesday. For the study, researchers took data from more than 500 children and adolescents suffering from high blood pressure. It revealed a link between sleeping less than the recommended time and high blood pressure.
The data was collected from children and teens seen in a clinic at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Although the study doesn't prove that short sleep times cause high blood pressure, doctors don't usually think about sleep when they counsel parents about high blood pressure, said Dr. Amy Kogan, an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and the study's lead author. Kogan is a pediatric kidney specialist.
“We usually target things like diet and exercise. That's another thing parents should think about, especially if a child has high blood pressure,” Kogan said.
Kogan said about one-third of elementary school children get less than the recommended amount of sleep. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the recommended sleep time for children ages 6 to 12 is 9 to 12 hours per night. On the other hand, children ages 6 to 12 should get 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night. Children under age 6 should get 10 to 13 hours of sleep per night.
Researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia studied the medical records of 539 children who had an average age of 14.6 years and who were referred to a pediatric kidney clinic because of high blood pressure readings. The children were asked when they went to sleep and when they woke up in the morning. They were also asked to wear ambulatory blood pressure measuring devices, which took readings every 20 minutes while they were awake and every 30 minutes during sleep, according to a report by NBC News.
The study found that children who slept late were more likely to have high blood pressure. Also, the more children did not adhere to recommended levels, the more likely they were to experience high blood pressure during the day. The findings were consistent regardless of the children's age, gender, and BMI categories.
The study also found that sleeping too much also causes blood pressure problems. Normally, blood pressure drops by about 10% during sleep, but this is less likely to happen when children sleep more than the recommended time.
Ways to get kids to sleep better
Regular bedtime
A regular routine can help signal to the child's body that it's time to rest. Activities like reading a book, taking a warm bath, or listening to calming music can help them fall asleep more easily.
Make sure the bedroom is dark, cool, and quiet. Using blackout curtains, white noise machines, and comfortable bedding can help create the ideal sleep environment.
Spending time in front of a screen can affect the production of the sleep hormone called melatonin. Encourage activities like reading or drawing instead of watching TV or playing on a tablet.
Regular exercise helps children fall asleep faster and sleep deeper. Make sure physical activity is scheduled early in the day.
Avoid giving children caffeinated beverages and sugary snacks, especially in the afternoon and evening.