The doctor named the risks of alcohol use before bedtime
Alcohol can create a feeling of relaxation and help you fall asleep faster, but this effect is deceptive. Ethanol disrupts the natural structure of sleep, reduces the quality of rest and can lead to fatigue the next day. ""Izvestia"" was told about this on September 25 by Ekaterina Demyanovskaya, a neurologist and expert at the Hemotest Laboratory.
According to the expert, ethyl alcohol affects the functioning of the brain and the transmission of signals between nerve cells. After drinking alcohol, inhibition processes in the central nervous system increase, which can cause a person to feel relaxation, decreased anxiety and drowsiness.
However, this condition does not mean that the body receives a full recovery.
"Normally, several phases of sleep alternate throughout the night, and each performs its own function. Slow sleep is necessary for the physical recovery of the body, and fast sleep is necessary for processing the information and emotions received during the day, consolidating memory. Under the influence of ethanol, the natural structure of sleep changes: the REM sleep phase begins later, and its total duration may decrease," Demyanovskaya explained.
According to the doctor, even after small doses of alcohol, a person can sleep for the usual number of hours, but wake up not rested. Scientific studies also show that the higher the dose of ethanol, the more severely the REM sleep phase is disrupted. At the same time, a noticeable acceleration of falling asleep is more often observed only after drinking a significant amount of alcohol.
After reducing the concentration of ethanol in the blood, the initial relaxing effect disappears. In the second half of the night, sleep may become more shallow and intermittent.
According to the neurologist, when alcohol is processed, acetaldehyde is formed in the body, which has a toxic effect and activates the sympathetic nervous system. As a result, cortisol and adrenaline levels rise, the heart rate increases, and the body begins to enter a state of wakefulness ahead of time. Because of this, a person may experience drowsiness, fatigue, decreased concentration, and memory loss in the morning.
Why alcohol is dangerous for snoring and sleep apnea
People with obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing stops during sleep, should be especially careful with alcohol before bedtime. Ethanol relaxes the muscles of the upper respiratory tract, which can cause snoring to worsen and episodes of respiratory arrest to become more frequent. As a result, the oxygen level in the blood decreases and the quality of sleep deteriorates.
The doctor also warned about the dangers of combining alcohol with sleeping pills and sedatives.
"It is especially dangerous to combine alcohol with sleeping pills and sedatives that depress the central nervous system. Their effects can reinforce each other, up to dangerous respiratory depression during sleep," Demyanovskaya noted.
Why alcohol addiction may occur before bedtime
According to the expert, regular alcohol consumption to make it easier to fall asleep can lead to addiction. Over time, the body gets used to the sedative effect of alcohol, and it becomes more difficult for a person to relax without it. To achieve the same result, it may be necessary to increase the dose.
If a person notices that it is difficult for him to fall asleep without alcohol, this may be a sign of a sleep problem that needs to be discussed with a doctor. According to the expert, in order to improve the quality of sleep, it is important to look for the causes of disorders, rather than using alcohol as a way to temporarily relieve tension.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
