You may want to think twice before pouring that nightcap—it turns out alcohol could be wreaking major havoc on your sleep.
Alcohol wakes you up at night.
While knocking back a glass or two might help you fall asleep faster, going to bed with a buzz may also lead to a worse night’s sleep. Scientists reviewed 20 different studies and concluded that the tradeoff to dozing off after consuming alcohol is waking up more easily later on in the night.
It cuts into your REM sleep.
REM sleep is essential to a good night’s rest. It has a long list of benefits, including daytime alertness, improved learning, and better long-term memory, as well as allowing us to process our emotions, saysDr. Philip Gehrman, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania. The problem with alcohol is that it has a significant impact on REM sleep, which can hurt long-term memory and make us more irritable. “Basically, alcohol is a REM suppressant,” saysGehrman. “The more we drink, the less REM we get.”
Read the full Time Article here
Not Convinced?
Still Not Convinced?
In a recently completed study, researchers found that alcohol actually disrupts an individual’s ability to get quality sleep.
