Why does alcohol ruin your sleep?
Share:
Christmas is often associated with socialising and overindulgence – but what impact does drinking alcohol have on our sleep?. Many of us feel sluggish the morning after a heavy evening of festive boozing, but we want to know how drinking affects our brains and bodies during the night.
We’ve consulted with experts who have shared the reasons why alcohol frequently sabotages our sleep…What happens to your body when you drink alcohol?. “When you drink alcohol, your body prioritises breaking down alcohol over other bodily processes, leading to the accumulation of toxic byproducts like acetaldehyde, which can cause inflammation and fatigue,” explains Dr Ashwin Sharma, a leading medical professional at MedExpress. “Alcohol initially depresses the central nervous system, producing feelings of relaxation or euphoria.
“However, as alcohol is metabolised, the brain compensates by becoming more excitable, leading to restlessness, disrupted sleep, and increased heart rate during the second half of the night.”. Consuming too much alcohol can also impact the part of the brain which regulates your internal clock.
“It impacts the hypothalamus, the brain region that regulates circadian rhythms, potentially interfering with your internal clock,” says Dr Steve Allder, consultant neurologist at Re:Cognition Health. Is the quality of sleep worse after a night of drinking?.
“The quality of sleep is almost always worse after consuming alcohol,” confirms Allder. “Alcohol suppresses rapid eye movement (REM) sleep during the first half of the night. As the body metabolises the alcohol, there’s a rebound effect, leading to lighter, more fragmented sleep in the second half.
Share:
More for You
