Understanding Alcohol and How it Effects Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea, Sleeping Disorders & Why Can't I Sleep?
English - July 01, 2020 10:00 - 1 minute - 713 KBHealth & Fitness sleep apnea sleeping disorders sleep apnea therapy cpap machine reviews Homepage Download Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Alcohol and sleep apnea
Sleep is generally known to assist recovery from physical, mental, and brain fatigue caused by daytime activities. Poor quality sleep leads to increased stress, fatigue, and mood disorders. It also raises risks of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease.
If you suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), you must know that drinking alcohol can increase apnea events and their duration.
In OAS, breathing stops for brief periods during sleep. It's because the normal flow of air is repeatedly prevented throughout the night. Alcohol disturbs the length of sleep state and natural cycle by changing the total amount of time you sleep, and the time it takes you to fall asleep. In short, it can worsen your sleep apnea symptoms.
Recent research studies assess how alcohol affects your sleep apnea and snoring by relaxing airway muscles. These findings must make to want to change your drinking and sleep habits.
This article is compiled to provide information gathered from credible, fact-based sources to give you an overview of how alcohol affects your sleep apnea? Furthermore, if you choose to drink, we'll provide guide on how to get a better night's sleep. We also answer common questions that you may have about how drinking impacts sleep health.
How Does Alcohol Affect Sleep Apnea?
Compared to the general population you are more likely to have OSA if you are:
Obese or overweightOlder or middle-agedHave anatomy that narrows the airway
About 20 per cent of Americans have obstructive sleep apnea, and only 10% have a diagnosis. Even if you don't have a diagnosis, there is a strong association between alcohol and OSA. Especially if you already snore and have alcohol use disorder, you may be at higher risk for developing OSA.
“Research studies show that people who don't even have the condition; moderate or heavy drinking can cause episodes of obstructive sleep apnea.”
For those with OSA, the consequences of sleep apnea become more pronounced when you drink because it relaxes your muscles and diminishes your arousal response time.
Does Alcohol Cause Sleep Apnea?
Alcohol doesn't cause sleep apnea. But research shows that patients who engaged in frequent alcohol use, regular drinking puts them at higher risk for developing sleep apnea. It can also make current OSA episodes worse. The best recommendation for patients that are at risk of developing OSA is to abstain from drinking.
Should Sleep Apnea Sufferers Avoid Alcohol?
Well, if you have sleep apnea, the best advice would be to abstain from all alcohol use. Here are research-based reasons;
Alcohol and Sleep in Those With Alcoholism
Many people who have insomnia will take a drink before bedtime to help them fall asleep. According to a National Sleep Foundation survey:
"In the general population, 30% of people with persistent insomnia have reported that alcohol helps them sleep in the past year. And 67% of those demonstrated that alcohol was useful in inducing sleep."
Alcohol And Sleep In Those With Low And Moderate Drinking
Studies have found that alcohol consumed even six hours before bedtime can increase wakefulness during the second half of sleep. Even though the alcohol consumed has already been eliminated from the body.
How to Sleep Better After Drinking Alcohol?