If you think there is nothing quite like a drink before bed for a good night’s sleep, well, actually, there is. Apparently almost anything, except loads of caffeine, will help you get a better night’s sleep. If this is true, then where did the idea that drinking alcohol helps you get to sleep come from? And how exactly does alcohol affect sleep? It is all about the type of sleep you achieve, and only the right type of sleep is going to get you jumping out of bed in the morning with a smile on your face.
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If you have difficulty falling asleep many people are likely to have suggested having a drink before bed to help you on your way. Falling asleep quicker, as anyone who has ever drifted off half way through a conversation after dinner at a bar will attest to, is probably the number one of alcohol’s effect on sleep. But, while you drift off more quickly after alcohol, you don’t tend to stay asleep, which is one of the reasons why you feel so unrested in the morning after a night out.
Sleep comes in cycles; you go through stages of light and deep sleep during the night. One of the most important parts of the cycle is when you enter REM sleep. Now this has nothing to do with the band and everything to do with dreaming. REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep occurs roughly 90 minutes after you fall asleep. It is believed to be the most restorative part of the sleep cycle. Alcohol interferes with REM sleep and is thought to shorten this part of the cycle. In doing so, it not only gives you much more bizarre dreams that you can barely remember, but it also leaves you tired and prone to bouts of grumpiness during the day.
One of the most disturbing issues related to alcohol’s effect on sleep is snoring. If you’ve ever tried to sleep through the snores of someone who has had a little too much before bedtime, you will understand. On a slightly more serious note, alcohol has been linked with sleep apnea, where sufferers temporarily stop breathing during the night; the main reason is that alcohol suppresses breathing and can cause the condition even if you are healthy. And if you’re not, try a high-quality mattress and hot cocoa before bed instead, just to be sure of a good night’s sleep.
