Inadequate sleep in young women could raise the risk of heart disease years later.

A convincing association has been found between short sleep duration and high cholesterol levels in young women. More than 14,000 participants in grades 7-12 were selected and then followed for 6 years. Self-reported short sleep duration was associated with 15% more high cholesterol, even after adjustments for confounders. Heart disease begins early in life, so it is essential to reduce as many risk factors as possible.

PositiveTip: Encourage your teens to get adequate sleep--it may reduce their risk of heart disease in the future.