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 adolescents' sleep patterns actually differ from those of adults or children. Experts say that during adolescence, the body's circadian rhythm (a kind of internal biological clock) is temporarily reset, telling the person to fall asleep later and wake up later. This change may be due to the brain hormone melatonin being 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 Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayThese changes in the body's circadian rhythm coincide with a challenging period of life. For most teenagers, the pressure to do well in school is more intense than when they were children, and it is harder to cope 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 starts at some schools may also play a role in sleep loss. Teens who fall asleep after midnight may still have to get up early for school, meaning they may only get 6 or 7 hours of sleep a night. A few hours of missed sleep a night may not seem like a big deal, but over time it can create a significant sleep deficit. Why is sleep important? A sleep deficit affects everything from your ability to pay attention in class to your mood. . According to a Sleep in America survey by the National Sleep Foundation, more than 25 percent of high school students fall asleep in class, and experts have linked sleep loss to poorer grades. Lack of sleep also harms adolescents' ability to perform at their best in athletics. However, slowed responses and reduced concentration from lack of sleep do not only affect school or sports performance. More than half of the teens surveyed reported driving a car while drowsy in the past year, and 15 percent said they drove drowsily at least once a week. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that each year in the United States more than 100,000 people are killed, 40,000 injured and 1,500 people killed in crashes caused by simply tired drivers. Young people under the age of 25 are much more likely to be involved in road accidents due to drowsiness. Remember: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Lack of sleep is also linked to emotional problems , such as feelings of sadness and depression. Sleep also helps keep us physically healthy by slowing down the body's systems to recharge us with energy for daily activities.