Are you convinced that drinking alcohol helps you sleep? That may be true if you are drinking just one glass of your favorite beer, wine, or similar beverages.
However, did you know that drinking too much alcohol can actually decrease the quality of your sleep?
You might think that drinking is helping you sleep, but there are a few reasons it actually keeps you from getting a good night’s rest.
There is a certain chemical process that the body goes through when you’ve had too many drinks before bed. The alcohol produces a sleep hormone called adenosine. Sure, it increases the hormone and helps you sleep like a rock at first. However, during the night, it wears off. When it increases and then drops, you are more likely to be awakened by your body before you are done sleeping. So although you are getting a few good hours in while under the influence of alcohol, the hours that follow that may have you struggling to fall back to sleep.
In addition to the above, too much alcohol can disrupt your normal, natural pattern of sleep (circadian rhythm). It blocks REM sleep, which is the most important kind of sleep. When that gets interrupted, you will feel groggy and unfocused the next day.
Your drinking can affect your partner’s sleep quality as well. When you drink, you are more likely to snore when you sleep. That is because the alcohol relaxes the muscles in your throat. The more you drink, the more you are likely to snore. So if you’ve had one too many, don’t be alarmed if you get some complaints the next day about snoring.
If you do have a few drinks, note how you feel the next day when you wake. Are you tired, irritable, or having trouble concentrating? Then, avoid drinking that evening and see how much better you feel the next day. Also try: cooling your bedroom down while sleeping, avoiding stimulants (like nicotine or caffeine) in the evening, exercising regularly, and setting a regular bed time and wake time.
If you feel you need more help with your sleeping or for your need to drink alcohol, call your doctor.