Will Alcohol Affect Sleep?
Quite simply, alcohol does affect sleep. Most people will note that when they have had something alcoholic to drink, they feel quite sleepy, and find they can fall asleep much easier. This is because alcohol is a sedative. However, it would be wrong to assume that drinking before you went to bed was a good, healthy nightcap, as alcohol affects your sleep for the worse.
Alcohol can reduce sleep efficiency and the amount of REM sleep we have. Studies have shown that the more alcohol that is consumed regularly, the less sleep the individual will get. Thus, a disruption to sleep can also cause links to depression, anxiety and so on.
Alcohol can also affect Sleep Apnoea sleep disorders as alcohol dilates the muscles of the lungs, which can increase the chances of blockages that cause stopped breathing in sleep apnoea.
Therefore, if you are looking for a good healthy night’s sleep, alcohol may induce your sleep but will only do more harm than good. Try to avoid alcohol several hours before sleeping to reduce the chances of a disturbed night’s sleep.
- Types of Insomnia
- Symptoms of Insomnia
- Effects of Insomnia
- Living & Coping with Insomnia
- Treatment for Insomnia
- Medications for Insomnia
- Types of Sleep Apnoea
- Treatment for Restless Legs Syndrome
- Medication for Restless Legs Syndrome
- Effects of Narcolepsy
- Symptoms of Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome
- Nightmares & Night Terrors
- Sleep Walking
- Sleep Talking
- Sleep Disorders & Sleep Problems in Children
- Natural Aids to Help you Sleep
- Sleep Disorders A-Z
- Sleep Disorders Questions
SLEEP DISORDERS & SLEEP PROBLEMS
- Find Sleep Clinics, Specialists & Centres
- Sleep Disorders & Problems Guide
- Importance of Sleep
- A Healthy Night’s Sleep
- Factors Affecting Sleeping Patterns
- Insomnia
- Sleep Apnoea
- Restless Leg Syndrome
- Narcolepsy
- Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome
- Snoring
- Other Sleep Related Problems
- Parasomnia's
- Sleep Disorders, Who Suffers?
- Diagnosing Sleep Disorders
