Late nights, later mornings: How teen sleep patterns change over summer

When summer hits, sleep schedules often fly out the window, especially for teenagers left to their own devices.

“Sleep is for the weak”, as they say.

Caroline Bitton, a nurse practitioner with Southern Health, is all too familiar with the pattern.

“It's very common,” Bitton says, “Naturally, their circadian rhythms are a little bit later to begin with.”

But while it may seem harmless to let the youth burn the candle from both ends, Bitton says irregular sleep can result in more than just groggy, bleary-eyed mornings.

Why teens stay up late

As structure fades with the school year, Bitton explains, many teens naturally slip into later sleep cycles. But lifestyle choices also play a role.

“There are definitely unhealthy activities that teens do, and adults as well, but teens more, beca