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Although alcohol acts as a depressant and can make you feel tired initially, it ultimately leads to shorter, lower-quality sleep.
Take a look at a few key points highlighted by Georges A Ghacibeh, M.D.,, Sleep Medicine Specialist.
- Disrupts Sleep Cycles: Alcohol reduces restorative rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is vital for memory and feeling rested. As the alcohol wears off overnight, it can cause a rebound of vivid, stressful dreams and frequent awakenings.
- Decreases Sleep Quality: The article, citing neurologist Dr. Georges Ghacibeh, notes that even small amounts of alcohol can harm sleep quality.
- A small serving can decrease sleep quality by 9.3%.
- A moderate serving can decrease it by 24%.
- A large serving can decrease it by 39.2%.
- Worsens Sleep Disorders: Alcohol can induce insomnia symptoms by fragmenting sleep. It also worsens sleep apnea by relaxing throat muscles, which can increase the risk of airway collapse and heavy snoring by 25%.
- Dangerous Interactions: Mixing alcohol with sleep medications (like Ambien, Benadryl, or even melatonin) is dangerous because it amplifies the depressant effects on the central nervous system.
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