What are the harms of long-term sleep deprivation in adolescents?

Adolescence is a critical period for children's physical development and academic growth. Chronic late-night sleep habits can have multiple negative effects on their physical and mental health, primarily including impaired growth and development, reduced learning efficiency, cardiovascular damage, endocrine disruption, and weakened immunity. The specific analysis is as follows:

1. Impaired Growth and Development: Height growth during adolescence depends on the secretion of growth hormone, which peaks during deep sleep at night. Chronic late-night sleeping disrupts normal sleep patterns and suppresses growth hormone secretion, directly affecting bone development and potentially leading to slower height growth and missed optimal growth windows.

2. Reduced Learning Efficiency: Staying up late deprives the brain of adequate rest, resulting in poor concentration and significantly reduced memory the following day. Students may become easily distracted in class, with diminished ability to understand and absorb knowledge. Homework takes longer to complete and quality declines, leading over time to declining academic performance.

3. Cardiovascular Damage: Prolonged late-night sleeping puts the body in a state of stress, causing blood pressure fluctuations and increased heart rate, thereby placing extra strain on the heart. Some adolescents may experience symptoms such as chest tightness and dizziness. Over time, this increases the risk of developing cardiovascular issues during adolescence, such as hypertension and arrhythmia.

4. Endocrine Disruption: Late-night sleeping interferes with the balance of the endocrine system, potentially causing hormonal imbalances. In girls, this may lead to menstrual irregularities; in boys, it may affect testosterone secretion. Additionally, endocrine disorders can worsen skin condition, causing increased acne and excessive oil production.

5. Weakened Immunity: Sleep deprivation suppresses immune system function, reducing the body’s resistance. Adolescents may suffer frequent colds and fevers, become more susceptible to bacterial or viral infections, and experience prolonged recovery times when ill, disrupting their normal study and daily routines.

Parents should prioritize managing their children's sleep schedules, helping them establish regular sleep habits and encouraging them to fall asleep before 11 p.m. It is also important to create a quiet and comfortable sleep environment and minimize distractions from electronic devices, allowing adolescents to grow up healthy with sufficient sleep.