You probably already know that imbibing too many alcoholic beverages can result in a painful hangover the next day. Were you aware, though, that even having one or two drinks right before bed can negatively impact your sleep patterns? Those with sleep apnea may even make their symptoms worse by having that glass of wine before settling down for the night.
If you’ve ever woken up in the morning feeling more exhausted than when you fell asleep the night before, you could be suffering from this condition. Continue reading to learn more about the connection between alcohol and sleep apnea so you can finally get a well-deserved night’s rest!
What is Sleep Apnea?
People with this disorder experience interruptions in their breathing patterns that interrupt their natural sleep cycle at night. This can lead to general lethargy, mood swings, difficulty concentrating, and other issues.
There are three types, and they are:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This is the most common type and happens when the soft tissues in the back of your throat collapse when you rest, which blocks your airway. This can cause distressing snoring, gasping, choking, or snorting.
- Central sleep apnea. This type occurs when the brain doesn’t send the appropriate signals to the autonomic muscles that control your inhalation and exhalation.
- Complex sleep apnea. Also known as treatment-emergent, this is when someone with OSA also develops central sleep apnea due to using a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine on an ongoing basis.
How Does Alcohol Impact Sleep Apnea?
Alcohol is a depressant, also known as a “downer,” which means it slows down brain function as well as your central nervous system (CNS). Although you might think that makes it a natural sedative that should help you rest more easily, it can have the opposite effect.
For example, alcohol tends to exacerbate the symptoms of OSA. It relaxes your muscles which can worsen the airway blockage and increase the amount of time when your breathing stops and restarts. Plus, it can cause nasal congestion, making it harder to inhale through your nose.
It also detrimentally affects individuals with central sleep apnea. Under normal circumstances, the brain communicates with your respiratory muscles to trigger each inhale and exhale while you catch some z’s. This process is already glitchy for those with central sleep apnea, and alcohol only makes it worse. It slows the brain as well as the central nervous system which causes your breathing to stop and start more frequently.
If you keep waking up already tired in the morning, you can try to avoid alcohol before heading to bed to see if it helps!
About the Practice
At Healthy Sleep Tulsa, patients benefit from three experts with 30 years of experience helping people lead happy, healthy lives. They understand how a lack of sleep can impact your overall quality of life for people of all ages and work together to offer a variety of services to help you get a full night’s rest. They combine a caring and compassionate approach with state-of-the-art equipment to identify the underlying cause of your troubles and create fully individualized solutions to help you. If you’re not getting enough quality rest at night, you can request an appointment on the website or call (918) 409-0914.