Teen Sleep Quiz

Explanation
Your body rests during sleep, but your brain does not. An active brain during sleep prepares you for alertness and peak functioning the next day.

Explanation
You can “get by” on less sleep, but you cannot train your body to need less sleep. Sleep is a biological need that is genetically determined. While most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep, teens need 8 ½ -9 ½ hours to function at their best, with the use of caffeine or other stimulants.

Explanation
During adolescence, many teens experience a shift in their sleep-wake cycle. Both their bodies and brains are not ready to fall asleep until later in the evening, but they still need 9 ¼ hours on average to wake up feeling alert and ready to function at their best during the day. To get enough sleep, this means waking later in the morning.

Explanation
Although you can make up for some sleep during the weekend, it can be difficult to “pay back” when the sleep debt becomes too large. Making up for sleep loss on weekends by sleeping in later can alter your weekly sleep schedule since sleeping in late on Sunday morning means that you may not be sleep until later on Sunday night. Then, you will have to get up early again to get to school on time on Monday morning.

Explanation
Boredom, heavy meals and long drive do not cause sleepiness; they only unmask existing sleep deprivation that can accumulate over time. Also, the biological clock in your brain makes you sleepier at night and in the mid-afternoon.

Explanation
Sleep is an active and restorative process that requires time in order for you to experience the deeper stages of sleep, when important hormones are released and other essential biological processes occur. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body builds up a sleep debt.

Explanation
Snoring may be harmless for many people, but it may also indicate the presence of a life-threatening sleep and breathing disorder called sleep apnea. In some cases, it may be due to problems with tonsils or the physical structure around the mouth, throat and neck. If snoring occurs on a regular basis and it is loud, it is important to talk to your doctor.

Explanation
Most people do not know when they are sleepy. Researchers have asked thousands of people over the years if they are sleepy, only to be told no—just before the individual fell asleep. If you are sleepy enough you can fall asleep anywhere—even while driving.

Explanation
Opening a window, turning up the radio or the air conditioner or chewing gum has no lasting affect on a person’s alertness. In fact, these things may further mask the person’s sleepiness. The only short-term solution is to pull over at a safe place and take a short nap or have a caffeinated drink. The long-term solution and proven measure to make you more alert behind the wheel is to get a good night’s sleep every night.

Explanation
Stress and depression can contribute to insomnia (difficulty falling or staying asleep). However, many sleep disorders such as sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome are medical conditions that require treatment. Falling asleep in school or at other times throughout the day could be a symptom of narcolepsy (excessive daytime sleepiness with involuntary sleep attacks). There are over 80 different types of sleep disorders, and difficulty sleeping or daytime sleepiness should be discussed with your doctor.

Explanation
Though many people fail to remember their dreams, dreaming does occur for every person, every night. Dreams are most vivid during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.

Explanation
Studies of people who were awake for 20 hours showed a decline in both performance and response rates on the road similar to those who have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) equivalent to being legally drunk (0.08%). Drowsy drivers put themselves and others in harm’s way.