The influence of alcohol on sleep

Regardless of your age or gender, drinking alcohol will significantly affect your ability to fall asleep. Many people associate alcohol with a kind of tranquilizer that they can turn to at times when they are stressed and need to relax a little before going to sleep. This bad habit, based on false beliefs and lack of information, affects the quality of sleep of many people who continue to turn to alcohol as a quick way to find calm in moments when they are excited and cannot sleep.

The effects of alcohol on sleep are quite peculiar. Contrary to the consumption of other substances such as caffeine or sugary drinks, alcohol does make us fall asleep quickly. The trap of alcohol begins to take effect once we have fallen asleep, where the whole structure of our sleep will be affected, making it impossible for us to achieve deep and restful sleep.

During the development of this guide we will be analyzing some of the most important aspects related to this topic, so that we can delve into the knowledge we have regarding the influence of certain substances on the quality of our rest, thus demystifying some aspects concerning alcohol and its impact on our sleep.

From sedative to stimulant

Alcohol behaves as a powerful sedative during the first phase of its effects, which is why when we ingest large quantities of alcoholic beverages, we are invaded by a feeling of deep sleep that invites us to go to sleep. This is what causes many people to have the erroneous idea that alcohol can be used to calm us down and help us fall asleep. The problem with this use of alcohol is that although it is true that in the initial stage of alcohol consumption, alcohol behaves as a sedative, once it is metabolized by the human organism it behaves as a powerful stimulant.

When alcohol levels decrease in our organism, a series of changes usually occur within our body, which prevent us from sleeping soundly. Consequently, we may wake up and toss and turn before we can fall asleep again. Urine production will also increase, since alcohol is a diuretic. Similarly, we will see a noticeable increase in our snoring due to the muscle relaxant effect that alcohol has on our airways.

Avoid alcohol before going to sleep

It is clear that alcohol is a very harmful substance for our health, so in any case, it is best neve