Avoid Alcohol As It Worsens Insomnia

Posted on December 8, 2008 in Latest News

Insomnia and alcohol are often used together. Many believe that alcohol is the best cure for insomnia. It helps one drift into sleep fast and easily. However, this is a false conception as alcohol can cause one to sleep easily but will not enable one to remain asleep for long.

Alcohol tends to dehydrate the body and causes one to wake up several times in the night and drink water. This greatly disturbs the sleep pattern.

Also, alcohol will make one more sluggish and lethargic the next day. It does nothing but worsens one’s condition even more. Alcohol tends to disrupt sleep pattern greatly, especially the REM phase, which when disrupted cannot be brought to normalcy.

During the second phase of sleep, the body is busy overcorrecting itself to the effect of alcohol, trying to bring it back to a normal pattern. The brain is busy signaling and getting things right in the body; this further contributes to a disturbed sleep. The result is that one will wake up tired and disillusioned the next day with a severe hangover.

Indulgence in alcohol for a long period of time also lead to chronic insomnia. It is therefore important that one stay away from alcohol before going to bed in order to enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep.

Comments

One Response to “Avoid Alcohol As It Worsens Insomnia”

  1. Sheila Joyce Gibbs Says:
    December 8th, 2008 at 9:11 pm

    Your column on insomnia perhaps may be true for some, however, as a recovering alcoholic now 20 months, my late husband & I both had excellent careers, and drank for all those 30 yrs too. Never drunk nor this weird bingeing(?), just with workmates, friends, family etc.
    But never any problems sleeping !
    In our mid 40’s however, we were each hit severely & permanently health wise, with Grand-Mal Seizures, with no cure what-so-ever.
    Having lost the man of my dreams 20 months ago, I’ve been trying to spread the warning, only to discover there are many individuals out there, with the same affliction, as well as, near complete blindness,
    deafness, severe heart attacks & such corroded livers, & on waiting lists for transplants that may never happen in time……..and none of these people, have ever spoken out about this, to anyone, due to fear of shame.
    So, I kinda don’t think sleeplessness is that big of a deal, really !

    Footnote on grief & bereavement…….. When ever my hubby had been in the hospital, I never ever was able to sleep…….! And since his passing away, guess who can’t sleep………..?? Right, me !

    May the dear Lord God above, have mercy on us all !

Leave a Reply