Interpretação de texto informativo: por que os adolescentes vivem cansados?

Why are teenagers always tired?

If you find it hard to fall asleep before midnight and even harder to wake up for school, you are not lazy: your body clock may be the reason. During adolescence, the brain starts to release melatonin, the hormone that makes us sleepy, about two hours later than it did in childhood. As a result, many teenagers naturally feel awake late at night.

Health experts recommend that people aged 13 to 18 sleep between 8 and 10 hours a night. However, many high school students sleep much less than that on school nights. Lack of sleep can affect memory, mood and concentration, and it may also increase the risk of accidents.

Screens make the problem worse. The blue light from phones and tablets can delay the release of melatonin even more. For this reason, specialists suggest turning off devices at least one hour before bed, keeping a regular schedule, even on weekends, and avoiding caffeine in the afternoon.

Some schools in the United States and in Europe have decided to start classes later in the morning. The first results are promising: students are arriving on time more often, and their grades have improved.