ALCOHOL AND SLEEP: A MATCH MADE IN HANGOVER HEAVEN
Have you ever had a night where you went out, had a few too many drinks, and then couldn't fall asleep? I know I have. But it turns out science has some answers to why that might happen.
A recent study looked at how alcohol affects sleep, and the results are pretty interesting. They got a group of young, social drinkers (aka, people who like to go out and have a good time) and had them drink either an alcoholic beverage or a placebo (fruit juice). Then, they hooked them up to sleep monitors and let them catch some z's.
So, what did they find? Well, for starters, the people who had the alcohol had a higher heart rate during the night, which is not exactly great news. They also slept for less overall and had a more challenging time staying asleep. And, if you're like me and love that deep, restful sleep (aka, where you're drooling on your pillow), you'll be disappointed to hear that those who drank alcohol spent less time in that stage.
But the real kicker? This poor sleep the night after drinking did not affect the morning aftereffects (or "hangover" as we know it)
Now I know what you might be thinking, "Well, duh! Alcohol is a sedative; it's supposed to make you sleepy!" But the science behind it is a bit more complicated than that. See, alcohol messes with your body's natural sleep rhythms and can cause you to wake up more often during the night. And let's be honest, that extra trip to the bathroom is never fun (especially if you're wearing a sleep monitoring ring like me, it gives you a pretty accurate picture of how many times you're tossing and turning, trust me)
But it's not all bad news! The study also found that reaction time, processing speed and motor control were all reduced after alcohol consumption, so that's something to keep in mind next time you're out and about. The study's results are a solid reminder that moderation is vital and to be mindful of the effects that alcohol can have on your sleep. So, next time you're out, enjoy yourself but keep an eye on your drink count, and your rest (and your Oura ring) will thank you.