6 ways drinking alcohol can affect the body

Drinking alcohol can impact many stages of the journey to parenthood. Beyond its link to cancer, alcohol is also linked to a variety of other health concerns, especially when consumed in excess, Karam-Hage says. Alcohol can also alter the body’s oral and gut microbiome, which Daniel-MacDougall describes as the balance of bacteria, viruses and fungi that help to keep the body healthy. Karam-Hage adds that alcohol impacts all of our organs, but particularly the brain, liver, esophagus and stomach.

But sleeping for at least 7 full hours each night does not always come easy. Experts recommend that adults aged 18–60 get at least 7–9 hours of sleep each night (1). In addition to being a depressant, Karam-Hage says alcohol can cause brain atrophy by speeding up the death of neurons in the brain. The resulting damage to brain cells and cell death can reduce cognitive function and cause problems with memory, concentration and executive functioning. “It used to be thought that it’s only heavy alcohol use, but now the understanding is that any alcohol during pregnancy can expose the unborn fetus to fetal alcohol syndrome,” he says. That ‘sick to your stomach’ feeling you might experience after overindulging.

Limiting Alcohol Consumption Before Bed

But knowing when to stop can be difficult as everybody processes alcohol differently. Some research has shown that drinking alcohol even six hours before bedtime can disrupt your sleep. So it’s a good idea to steer clear of alcohol for at least six hours before going to bed. And though it may help in the short term, drinking alcohol before bed https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/alcohol-and-sleep-does-alcohol-help-you-sleep/ can actually lead to a night of horrible, restless sleep. Your body alternates between REM (rapid eye movement) and non-REM sleep in cycles of about 90 minutes. “Deep sleep” is a form of non-REM sleep — and, as mentioned above, it’s the time when your body focuses on rebuilding tissue, bone, and muscle, and strengthens the immune system.

• Research also shows that those who drink alcohol before bedtime may experience a rebound in the second half of the night.
• As it gets dark, the pineal gland starts releasing melatonin, so your body can transition more smoothly into sleep.
• This information was published by Bupa’s Health Content Team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence.
• During sleep, a person’s heart rate should slow and drop to below 60 beats per minute.

People, as a whole, are getting less rest and are desperately turning to pills or other aids as a result. With extended use of alcohol over time, there can be long-term concerns, too. Many who abuse alcohol often do it well into the night and oversleep into the next day. In time this may lead to switching up day and night sleeping patterns. Then, as withdrawal from the drug or alcohol occurs there’s a big sleep-wake reversal which then needs to be addressed. REM sleep is vital for healthy brain development, the National Sleep Foundation noted.

Alcohol and Sleep Disorder

Tryptophan is an amino acid that’s a precursor to the hormone melatonin, which helps regulate when you fall asleep and wake up (5, 6, 7, 8). To date, research has mainly focused on excessive https://ecosoberhouse.com/ drinking; Karam-Hage says studies have even linked heavy drinking to increased dementia risk. More research is needed to determine how light alcohol use impacts the brain.

Alcohol in your body inhibits the release of vasopressin, your body’s natural anti-diuretic hormone. Usually, your brain releases anti-diuretic hormone as needed to tell your kidneys to hold onto water. Drinking to excess before bed also plays havoc with the REM sleep stage.

Problems associated with drinking before bed

Violet oil made from almonds or sesame seeds has even been used in traditional Iranian medicine for many years as a treatment for insomnia (65). Valerian particularly shows promise for alleviating insomnia and improving sleep quality among menopausal women. One study found that 30% of postmenopausal women who took a 530 mg valerian capsule twice a day for 4 weeks reported improvements in sleep quality (29, 30). Alcohol-related sleep issues aren’t just limited to nighttime, however. Karam-Hage says they can have a real impact during the daytime hours. When you drink alcohol, your body is less able to absorb and use a variety of nutrients that can protect it from cancer, Lee says.