Many people use alcohol to help them fall asleep. But the latest research reports that – while alcohol may help you fall asleep faster – the practice is unhealthy and negatively impacts the quality and quantity of your sleep. These risks far outweigh its sleep-inducing effects. In addition, regular use of alcohol as a sleep aid may result in a dependency on alcohol.
Alcohol and sleep quality
According to researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine, drinking alcohol to fall asleep interferes with sleep homeostasis, the body’s sleep-regulating mechanism. It reduces rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the stage of sleep when you dream and an important phase of restorative sleep. Alcohol may seem to be helping you sleep – as it helps
induce sleep – but the result is lighter, lower-quality sleep, interrupted by frequent awakenings which lead to a poorer night’s rest.
Alcohol and sleep apnea
Those suffering from sleep apnea should be extremely careful when mixing alcohol and sleep. Sleep apnea is a condition caused by obstructions in the airway that makes it difficult to breathe effectively while sleeping. Alcohol intensifies this problem by causing the airways to narrow even further and making it even harder for the person to get the quality of sleep they need. Research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison shows that men, especially, have longer episodes of sleep disordered breathing after drinking alcohol.
Alcohol and dependency
Using alcohol on a regular basis to change your mood, relax or help you fall asleep is a dangerous choice that can lead to dependence. One of the symptoms of alcohol dependence is the need to drink increasingly more to feel the same result. Health experts recommend that regular use of alcohol as a sleep aid may result in a dependency on alcohol and that alcohol should not be used as a sleep aid.
If you find that you still are having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, talk to your doctor or a sleep medicine physician to determine what factors are keeping you from sleeping. Your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available for access to confidential counseling, referrals or information. Your EAP provides service to you or your dependents to help with any personal, family, or work-related issue.