Insomnia increases the risk of hypertension in teenagers by five times

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, teenagers need 8-10 hours of sleep At night, But it is estimated that on average high school students sleep only 6.5 hours per night during the week.
Adolescents who don’t sleep enough, however, could be more at risk of hypertension. This is what emerges from a preliminary research presented to the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology, Prevention, Lifestyle & Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions 2025. Insufficient sleep is a well -known risk factor For cardiovascular diseases, which represent the main cause of death in the United States, overcoming chronic respiratory cancers and diseases.

To the Polisonnography test

The researchers have analyzed a group of over 400 teenagers (average age 16.5 years) from Penn State Child Cohort, a study cohort on child health. The boys compiled a questionnaire to report difficulties falling asleep and/or keep sleep.
Subsequently, they underwent a sleep study in the laboratory thanks to an exam called Polisonnographyduring which sensors applied to the head and body recorded the duration and quality of sleep. Short sleep has been defined as a duration of less than 7.7 hours.

The pressure values

The study included also the measurement of blood pressure, carried out via three consecutive surveys performed 2-3 hours before turning off the sleep lights. The pressure was classified according to the guidelines of the American Heart Association 2017, distinguishing between high pressure (≥120 mmhg systolic and/or ≥80 mmhg diastolic) e more severe hypertension (≥140 mmhg systolic and/or ≥90 mmhg diastolic).

«We know that a disturbed and insufficient sleep is associated with high blood pressure in adults, in particular in those who report insomnia and they sleep objectively Less than six hoursbut we still don’t know if these associations exist in teenagers, « said the senior author of the study Julio Fernandez-Mendozaprofessor of psychiatry, neuroscience and public health sciences and director of behavioral medicine of sleep at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in Hershey.

The results

The boys with self-refined insomnia and sleep less than 7.7 hours In the laboratory they showed a risk of clinical hypertension five times higher Compared to the « good dormitories », that is, those who did not report insomnia and slept at least 7.7 hours. Even those who slept less than 7.7 hours without however reporting insomnia It had a triple blood pressure risk high compared to the « good dormitories ».

On the contrary, The teenagers who declared they had insomnia, but who managed to sleep enough in the laboratoryhave not shown an increased risk of hypertension.

«Insufficient sleep, by duration and/or quality carries out an unfavorable action on the cardiovascular system, in particular moving the balance of neurovegetative system towards a greater activity of the sympathetic systemwith higher heart rate and blood pressure values, worsening over time the function of blood vessels and blood clot « comments Roberto Pedretti, Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Diseases at the University of Milan Bicocca, director of the Cardiovascular Department at the Multimedic Ircss in Sesto San Giovanni (Milan).

Good sleep hygiene

These results also attract attention to the need to listen to teenagers who complain of sleep disorders. “It’s important intervene early to improve the quality and duration of sleep, By preventing future cardiovascular problems, « concludes the cardiologist. «Healthy sleep habits in adolescence can reduce long -term cardiovascular risk. As for adults, even children should practice good sleep hygiene, like Choose relaxing routines before sleeping, limit the use of electronic devicesavoid heavy meals and caffeine before bedtime and practicing regular physical activity, better not in the evening ».