Does alcohol make you sleep better or worse?
Alcohol has complex effects on sleep, initially promoting relaxation but ultimately leading to poorer sleep quality. While it may help some people fall asleep faster, it disrupts sleep patterns and reduces the amount of restorative deep sleep. Many individuals mistakenly use alcohol as a sleep aid, unaware of its long-term negative impacts on sleep health.
- ▪Alcohol produces both stimulating and sedating effects, complicating its impact on sleep.
- ▪Drinking can lead to quicker sleep onset but results in more awakenings and less deep sleep later in the night.
- ▪Heavy drinking is associated with increased risks of sleep disorders such as insomnia and sleep apnea.
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Open this photo in gallery:Alcohol produces both stimulating and sedating effects across the brain and body.karandaev/Getty ImagesShareSave for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story.Log InCreate Free AccountThe Sleep Whisperer is a series of columns offering insights and advice about sleep health. It is not a substitute for seeking professional medical care.Ever wondered what alcohol does to your sleep? You may feel it knocks you out to sleep like a log, and you would not be entirely wrong. But you may also notice that you don’t feel well-rested the next day. That’s because the full story of what alcohol does to our sleep is much more complex than many people realize.Alcohol produces both stimulating and sedating effects across the brain and body.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Globe and Mail.
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