Sleep disorders aren’t just common in adults, but in teens and adolescents too. If you want to know about the different effects delayed sleep phase syndrome has on teens, why it’s caused, what are its signs, and how it’s treated, then you are at the right place. However, for proper medical advice, visit a sleep center Silver Spring.

What Is Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome In Teens?

Starting with the basics, it is important to know what exactly delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) is. You wake up and fall asleep at a certain time every single day and night. That is not just occurring on a whim. It is the biological clock inside your body, known as the circadian rhythm, which prompts you to fall sleep and let your body and brain know that it is time to hit the hay.

This is a very complex and unique clock in your body that allows you to wake up when you are fully well-rested and make you sleepy when it is time for bed.

So, delayed sleep phase is a disorder in which your circadian rhythm is altered. It gets confused about the time when you have to sleep and wake up. Basically, as the name suggests, it delays the time when you should sleep and when you should wake up. This causes you to sleep and wake up later than usual and that really messes up your routine. The same can happen in teens too.

Why Is Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome Common In Teens?

It has been found through studies and surveys that 16% of teens suffer from delayed sleep phase syndrome, and it can be really challenging for them as they strive for energy and a well-rested body, and that is only possible when you sleep and wake up at a certain period of the day and night.

Delayed sleep phase syndrome can be really common in teens because of a lot of bodily and hormonal changes, which are completely normal. Usually, when a person hits puberty, their hormones are all over the place, and this affects the biological clock of the body too. So, you might experience your teen kids feeling energetic through the night and they also tend to sleep in late. This can cause the routine of the body to get out of whack, which is not good at all and over time, the body gets used to this delay and seems almost normal.

It might seem that way, but you definitely don’t want to let your guard down. Over time, delayed sleep phase syndrome can cause a lot of problems and your kid will be on the receiving end of it all. This is why you want to take it seriously from the start and ensure that you are doing everything you can to try and bring the biological clock back on track. This will help your kid in the long run.

Causes Of Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome In Teens

The first and foremost cause of delayed sleep phase syndrome in teens, or even adolescents in general, can be the hormonal changes as they grow up.

Chemical Changes In The Body

This is one of the most prevalent causes of sleep problems in teens because their bodies are going through a lot of chemical changes and the circadian rhythm is highly influenced by said chemical reactions and changes.

Changing of routine, the stress of school or college, and doing the most in every aspect of life, and changing behavior can contribute to this disorder and the worsening of it down the line.

Genetics

It can also be hereditary or familial and this is something that you have to keep track of. It is really easy for kids or teens to develop delayed sleep phase syndrome due to genetics, and there is unfortunately not a lot that you can do to stop it, other than managing it as best as you can with the help of a sleep doctor Baltimore.

Health Conditions

Some conditions can affect the quality of sleep causing sleep deprivation and sleep disorders. The health conditions can be asthma, allergies, migraines, thyroid disorders, GERD, anxiety and depression, etc.

Too Much Exposure To technology

Another very common cause of delayed sleep phase syndrome can be due to exposure to technology, that too in the extreme. A lot of teens are introduced to smartphones and computers at this age, and the blue light emitted from these gadgets can really mess with the biological clock of the body. So, these causes in combination can lead to a lot of problems down the line.

Symptoms Of Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome In Teens

Here are some of the most common symptoms of delayed sleep phase syndrome. Knowing these symptoms might help when it comes to treating and managing it down the line.

• Firstly, your kid will wake up and sleep at delayed periods. If, say, your kid sleeps at 10 PM and wakes up at 8 AM, then with delayed sleep phase syndrome, the time will be delayed by a couple of hours. So, you need to keep an eye on this at all times.
• When suffering from delayed sleep phase syndrome, your kid will also experience sleep deprivation. They will be tired at all times, they will nap throughout the day, and things will just not be perfect in their day-to-day life.
• Another thing that is really common when a teen is suffering from delayed sleep phase syndrome is that they will lose focus and concentration really easily. Of course, they will not be well rested, so that is to be expected.
• Lastly, they will also feel really cranky, as anyone would when they don’t get enough sleep throughout the night, and they wake up and sleep at very odd hours. So, you want to ensure that you are urging your teen to keep track of all these things, so that you can go and see a doctor as soon as possible.

Treatment & Management

Luckily, there are ways by which you can manage and treat delayed sleep phase syndrome and it can turn around for the better.

Consulting A Specialist

The first thing that you want to do is go and see a doctor for this. A sleep doctor will be your best bet. They will also need the record of your family history as well as your teen’s sleep diary so that they can get a better idea about their day-to-day when they are suffering from delayed sleep phase syndrome.

Lifestyle Changes

The next thing to do is adopt some lifestyle changes that will ensure that your kid’s biological clock is back on track. The doctor might suggest the following:

Medication

Melatonin supplements to ensure that the body feels sleepy, especially at night time.

Exposure To Light In The Morning Hours

Exposure to light in the morning can also trick your body and brain into thinking that it is time to get up. This is really effective, and it gets everything on track with some passage of time.

Creating A Schedule

Having a routine really helps when you are suffering from delayed sleep phase syndrome. It allows your body to be trained the way you want it to. And it understands, slowly but surely, that it is time to sleep and it is time to wake up. Work on it and witness the results yourself.

Conclusion

Delayed sleep phase syndrome is a very serious sleep disorder and it can really disrupt the everyday life of teens, especially if it is left untreated. So, if you notice the symptoms, see a sleep specialist Walkersville.