A new study suggests that teenagers who struggle to fall or stay asleep and get less sleep than their peers may be five times more likely to have dangerously high blood pressure.
Even teens without insomnia who slept less than 7.7 hours a night had nearly three times the risk of developing high blood pressure compared to those who got more sleep.
However, the study found that teens who reported insomnia but still managed to sleep at least 7.7 hours did not have a higher risk of high blood pressure.
Dr. Julio Fernandez-Mendoza, the senior researcher of the study, was surprised by the results. He expected to find a connection between poor sleep and slightly elevated blood pressure, but instead, the findings showed that these teens were more likely to have clinical hypertension—a serious level of high blood pressure that doctors would need to treat.
This research highlights the importance of identifying and addressing sleep problems in teenagers to protect their heart health.
While previous studies have shown a link between poor sleep and heart problems in adults, this study is among the first to focus on teenagers. Most earlier research on teen sleep has looked at mental health effects rather than physical health risks.
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is dangerous if left untreated. It can lead to heart disease, stroke, and other serious health problems by damaging blood vessels and making it harder for blood to flow through the body.
The study was presented at a major medical conference held by the American Heart Association. The results are considered preliminary until they are published in a scientific journal.
This research comes at a time when experts are paying more attention to teen sleep. Many discussions focus on school start times and the impact of late-night smartphone use.
Health organizations like the American Heart Association, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all recommend that teenagers aged 13 to 18 get 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night.
However, many teens do not meet this recommendation. About one-third of teenagers say they have trouble sleeping, and around 14% have chronic insomnia, meaning they struggle to fall or stay asleep at least three times a week for three months or more.
Axel Robinson, the study’s lead researcher, understands these struggles firsthand. The 17-year-old high school student analyzed the data as part of an internship. He has had trouble sleeping since he was a child and even sought therapy for it.
“It’s been part of my life for as long as I can remember,” Robinson said. He also noted that many of his classmates feel exhausted because they stay up late doing homework and then wake up early for school.
The study analyzed sleep data from 421 teenagers, averaging 16 years old, in Pennsylvania. These teens took part in a sleep study where they spent nine hours in a lab overnight. Teens with insomnia were identified based on self-reports of trouble falling or staying asleep.
The findings showed that compared to teens who slept at least 7.7 hours, those who slept less and had insomnia were five times more likely to have high blood pressure. Stage 2 hypertension, the most severe level of high blood pressure, was defined as having an average reading of at least 140/90 mmHg.
Dr. Sarah Honaker, a pediatric sleep expert not involved in the study, said this research is important because it shows that insomnia combined with short sleep increases heart risks in otherwise healthy teens.
“We already know that not getting enough sleep is bad for teens,” Honaker said. “But this study shows that insomnia makes the risks even worse.”
She added that these findings support the argument for later school start times. Many teens naturally have a later body clock, which makes it difficult for them to fall asleep early, even if they don’t have insomnia.
Previous studies from the same research group have also shown that teens with both insomnia and short sleep tend to have higher levels of stress hormones and inflammation—both of which are linked to heart disease.
However, teens with insomnia who still managed to sleep at least 7.7 hours did not show these signs, suggesting their sleep issues may be more related to stress or lifestyle habits.
Dr. Fernandez-Mendoza hopes the study will encourage teens and parents to take sleep problems seriously and seek help when needed.
“Don’t just assume that bad sleep is normal,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be that way.”
Analysis of the Study
This research adds to growing evidence that poor sleep can have serious health effects, even in young people. While adults have long been warned about the dangers of high blood pressure, this study shows that teens are also at risk, especially if they don’t get enough sleep.
One key takeaway is that simply having insomnia does not automatically increase the risk of high blood pressure. It is the combination of insomnia and short sleep that raises the risk. This means that while improving sleep quality is important, making sure teens get enough hours of sleep is just as critical.
The study also highlights a larger issue—many teenagers are not getting enough rest. Whether due to school schedules, technology use, or stress, sleep deprivation is common. If left unaddressed, these problems could have long-term effects on their health.
Another important finding is that previous research has linked short sleep to higher stress and inflammation, both of which are risk factors for heart disease. This reinforces the idea that sleep is a crucial part of overall health.
While the study is promising, it does have some limitations. The findings are based on data collected in a lab for one night, which may not reflect long-term sleep patterns. More research is needed to confirm these results and explore how improving sleep might reduce the risk of high blood pressure in teens.
Overall, this study is a wake-up call for teenagers, parents, and doctors. Sleep is not just about feeling rested—it plays a vital role in heart health. Making sleep a priority could help prevent serious health problems in the future.
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