Effects of Alcohol on Quality Sleep

Consumption of alcoholic beverages play a huge role in social gatherings in many cultures.

Mostly, it gives a feeling of relaxation and calmness, increasing social relations and making people feel more at ease in social situations with excitement and occasionally “highness”

A systemic analysis of the global burden from alcohol use by Max Griswold et al in 2018 revealed that one-third of all humans currently drink alcohol. Sadly, alcohol causes a high disease burden leading to significant social and economic consequences arising from unintentional and intentional injuries which occur in relatively younger age groups, including those due to road traffic crashes, violence, and suicide.

Also, we cannot ignore the two faced romance between alcohol and sleep. When taken in large amounts around bedtime, research shows that alcohol may disrupt your sleep cycle, duration, and quality. While many of us mistakenly believe that alcohol helps us fall asleep, it actually impairs sleep quality.

Alcohol can make you fall asleep faster and sleep heavier during the first portion of the night because it depresses the brain alertness, so when we drink a bit too much (or too late in the evening) we will experience drowsiness.

Alcohol can disrupt your sleep during the second half of the night

According to Dr Bhanu Kolla, a sleep medicine expert who said,

Halfway through the night, chemical reactions in the liver will have finished changing the alcohol into an awakening chemical called acetaldehyde. This reduces the deepness of sleep, causing the night to be filled with excessive dreams from dream sleep stages (light sleep stages) of the sleep cycle

To avoid the negative effects of alcohol on great quality sleep, it’s advisable to minimize intake or quit at best.

Whilst socializing, it’s important to prioritize one’s sleep and stop drinking at least two hours before bed to minimize the impact of alcohol on our sleep so one can wake up feeling well rested.

Are you currently facing any sleeping difficulty or looking for the best way to maintain quality sleep for generally wellbeing and healthy living?

A certified specialist is best fit to offer relevant advice for maintenance of quality sleep, sleep difficulties and solution.

Do you want to contact the Orthopaedic Sleep Consultant, Dr Charles Uzodimma, kindly send your request to sleepinfo@vitafoam.com.ng or Whatsapp 08129982143

Vitafoam is passionate about quality sleep, healthy living and general wellbeing of Nigerians. We are proudly Nigerian and constantly supports Nigerians with consistent quality products for comfort and wellbeing.