Adolescents adhering to the recommended sleep guidelines of nine to 11 hours per day experience a significantly reduced risk of hypertension, as highlighted in a groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at UTHealth Houston.
Recently published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the study found that those who cultivate healthy sleep patterns exhibit a remarkable 37% decrease in the risk of developing high blood pressure. This pivotal research underscores the critical importance of fostering adequate sleep behaviors during formative adolescent years.
“Disrupted sleep can lead to changes in the body’s stress response, including elevated levels of stress hormones like cortisol, which in turn can increase blood pressure,” commented first author Augusto César Ferreira De Moraes, PhD, who serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology at UTHealth Houston’s School of Public Health.
Using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study—an ongoing initiative monitoring adolescents’ biological and behavioral development—De Moraes and his research team analyzed a dataset comprising 3,320 adolescents throughout the United States. Their investigation focused on incidents of high blood pressure that occurred during nighttime sleep cycles. Alarmingly, the scientists documented a rise in hypertension occurrences across two distinct data intervals: from 1.7% in 2018-2020 to 2.9% in 2020-2022. The comprehensive data set included blood pressure measurements and evaluations via Fitbit devices, which provided insights into total sleep duration and REM sleep patterns at night. The study meticulously examined various factors such as sleep tracked by Fitbits, blood pressure readings, and environmental noise levels correlated with residential geocodes.
Although researchers looked into the influence of neighborhood/community noise on hypertension rates, no significant correlation was established. The findings signal a need for long-term investigations to explore the intricate relationship between sleep health and hypertension, especially concerning socioeconomic factors, stress levels, and possible genetic influences.
“Consistent sleep schedules, minimizing screen time before bed, and creating a calm, quiet sleep environment can all contribute to better sleep quality,” emphasized Martin Ma, MPH, who is the second author of the study and a fresh graduate from the School of Public Health. “Although environmental noise didn’t directly affect hypertension in this study, maintaining a quiet and restful sleep environment is still key to overall well-being.”
Alongside De Moraes, the study features contributions from additional authors, including Marcus Vinicius Nascimento-Ferreira, PhD, from the Universidade Federal do Tocantins; and esteemed faculty members from the School of Public Health, Ethan Hunt, PhD, assistant professor in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, and Deanna Hoelscher, PhD, RDN, LD, who serves as the regional dean in Austin and is a professor in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences.
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**Interview with Dr. Augusto César Ferreira De Moraes on Adolescent Sleep and Hypertension**
**Interviewer:** Welcome, Dr. De Moraes. Your recent study has shed new light on the importance of sleep in adolescents. Can you summarize your key findings regarding sleep duration and hypertension risk?
**Dr. De Moraes:** Thank you for having me. Our research shows that adolescents who adhere to the recommended nine to eleven hours of sleep per night experience a significant reduction in the risk of developing hypertension—specifically, a remarkable 37% decrease. This highlights how vital consistent, healthy sleep patterns are during these formative years.
**Interviewer:** That’s fascinating. What motivated you to focus on this particular aspect of adolescent health?
**Dr. De Moraes:** We know that adolescence is a critical period for physical and mental development. However, sleep is often overlooked amidst the pressures of school and social activities. Our motivation was to raise awareness about how disrupted sleep can lead to long-term health issues, including hypertension, which is becoming increasingly common among young people.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned disruptions in sleep related to stress hormones. Can you explain how this works?
**Dr. De Moraes:** Yes, disrupted sleep can trigger changes in the body’s stress response. For instance, it can lead to elevated levels of cortisol, which is a stress hormone. High cortisol levels can cause the body to increase blood pressure, leading to a cycle that can ultimately contribute to hypertension over time.
**Interviewer:** Your team utilized the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study for this research. What does this dataset encompass, and why is it important?
**Dr. De Moraes:** The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study is one of the largest long-term studies of brain development in children and adolescents. It provided us with a wealth of data from over 3,300 participants across the U.S. This allowed us to look closely at not just sleep patterns, but also their correlation with physiological health outcomes like blood pressure changes.
**Interviewer:** You noted an increase in hypertension during specific timeframes. Can you elaborate on these findings?
**Dr. De Moraes:** Certainly. We observed an increase in hypertension rates among adolescents, rising from 1.7% in the 2018-2020 period to 2.9% later on. This alarming trend highlights the urgency of addressing sleep hygiene and underscores the need for parents, educators, and healthcare providers to promote better sleep habits among adolescents.
**Interviewer:** What are some actionable steps you recommend for parents and teens to improve sleep health?
**Dr. De Moraes:** Establishing a consistent bedtime routine is crucial. Limiting screen time before bed, creating a calming sleep environment, and encouraging relaxation techniques such as mindfulness or reading can significantly improve sleep quality. It’s also vital to educate adolescents about the importance of sleep in their overall health.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. De Moraes, for sharing your insights on this critical topic. We hope your research encourages more discussions around adolescent health and sleep.
**Dr. De Moraes:** Thank you for having me. It’s my hope that we can work together to prioritize sleep as a fundamental component of healthy adolescent development.