Sleep is necessary for good health because it allows the body to perform its normal functions. However, scientists are still trying to discover the health effects of sleep as well as the dangers of inadequate sleep. The impact of sleep during teenage years is one topic of interest.
Poor sleep in teenage years may increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis, according to a new research published in the International of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry (MS).
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The significance of sleep for teenagers
Getting a good night’s sleep Trusted Source is essential for teenagers’ healthy growth and development. Adequate sleep aids in the healing of the body and improves mental function. Teens between the ages of thirteen and eighteen should get 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
The research adds to proof that good sleep is critical during the teenage years and that insufficient sleep may be harmful to health. The authors emphasize the importance of educating parents and teenagers about the dangers of sleep deprivation.
The Influence of Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder that causes central nervous system damage. Symptoms usually appear between the ages of 20 and 40.
Multiple sclerosis patients may exhibit symptoms.
Over time, the illness can cause a person to become more disabled. Multiple sclerosis patients may experience muscle weakness, vision problems, dizziness, and numbness.
It is unknown what causes some people to develop multiple sclerosis. It could be a reaction of the body’s immune system. People with a family history constituent with multiple sclerosis are more likely to develop the disease.
Sleep and multiple sclerosis
This was a case-control study conducted in Sweden. The study included 2,075 people with multiple sclerosis and 3,164 healthy people. Researchers questioned participants about their sleep duration and quality during their teenage years. They classified sleep duration into 3 groups:
below seven hours of sleep per night (short sleep)
Every night, I sleep between 7 and 9 hours.
10 or more hours of sleep per night (long sleep)
Researchers also inquired about the distinction between sleeping on working days or schooldays and sleeping on weekends and off days. Finally, researchers polled participants on their sleep quality, which ranged from very poor to very good.
Sleeping less than seven hours per night during adolescence was linked to an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis, according to the study. Limited sleep quality posed a similar risk. They discovered that differences in sleep timing between weekends and schooldays had no effect on a person’s risk of developing multiple sclerosis.
Study limitations and continued research
There were some limitations to the study. For starters, the study cannot verify that inadequate sleep did cause multiple sclerosis. The authors acknowledge the possibility of confounding variables, biasness, selection bias, and residual confounding.
Researchers also used information gathered from questionnaire completed out by participants, which could lead to inaccuracies. They also admit that there could have been factors they didn’t account for, such as stress and dietary choices. The study was conducted in a single country, which may indicate a future need for more diverse demographic studies.
