Until recently, teens often got a bad rap for staying up late, oversleeping for school, and falling asleep in class. But recent studies show that the sleep habits of adolescents differ from those of adults or children. Experts say that during adolescence, the body's circadian rhythm (much like an internal biological clock) is temporarily reset, telling a person to go to sleep later and wake up later. This change could be because the brain hormone melatonin is produced later at night in adolescents than in children and adults. This can make it harder for teens to fall asleep early. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay These changes in the body's circadian rhythm coincide with a busy time of life. For most teenagers, the pressure to succeed in school is more intense than when they were children, and it's harder to get by without studying hard. And teens have other demands on their time, too — from sports and other extracurricular activities to working part-time to save money for college. Early opening hours at some schools may also play a role in sleep loss. Teenagers who fall asleep after midnight may have to get up early for school, which means they may only sleep 6 or 7 hours a night. A few hours of missed sleep per night may not seem like a problem, but it can create a noticeable sleep deficit over time. Why is sleep important? A sleep deficit affects everything from a person's ability to pay attention to their mood in class. . According to a Sleep in America survey from the National Sleep Foundation, more than 25 percent of high school students fall asleep in class, and experts have linked sleep loss to poor grades. Lack of sleep also harms teens' ability to perform their best in athletics. However, slow responses and dulled concentration due to lack of sleep don't just affect academic or sports performance. More than half of the teens surveyed reported driving a car while sleepy in the past year, and 15% reported driving while sleepy at least once a week. The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration estimates that more than 100,000 crashes, 40,000 injuries, and 1,500 people are killed each year in the United States in crashes caused by simply tired drivers. Young people under the age of 25 are much more likely to be involved in drowsy-related driving accidents. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Personalized Essay Lack of sleep is also linked to emotional disorders , such as feelings of sadness and depression. Sleep also helps us stay physically healthy by slowing down the body's systems to give us energy for daily activities...