Do Alcohol & Caffeine Hinder Sleep?

We all strive to get a great nights sleep. A big contribution to the quality of sleep we can obtain is down to the quality of bed that we sleep in. There are some lifestyle choices that can impact on our sleeping habits. In this article we look at alcohol and caffeine and there impact on sleep.

Alcohol & Caffeine

It is unfortunate that two of the substances we often like the most can hinder our ability to sleep.

Caffeine

The ability of caffeine to hinder sleep is well documented and well known to many. For those who have a need to stay awake or alert and avoid going to sleep (i.e. those driving or working extra hours coffee or tea can be the perfect drink). Caffeine impacts the body in three ways

• It stimulates the nervous system,
• Increases alertness
• Wards off sleepiness.

Caffeine is found in: coffee, tea, chocolate, cola (some varieties as some are caffeine free) and many energy drinks, so all of these are to be avoided, especially in the afternoon and evening. For those people who like the idea of a coffee before going to sleep the option is to go for a decaffeinated equivalent.

Alcohol

Whilst alcohol is often used and considered as a relaxant, to ‘wind down’ after a long day, supposedly allowing you to go into deep sleep. Unfortunately this is not actually the case. Some of the potential challenges of having alcohol before sleep

• Alcohol may seem to make it easier to drop off, but you are more likely to experience poor quality sleep and become dehydrated.
• Depending upon what volume of alcohol you have been drinking you may also wake frequently to urinate because alcohol is a diuretic, and acts on the kidneys to make you pee more than you take in.
• So not only is your sleep disturbed by having to get up to urinate, as you’re urinating more you’ll start to feel dehydrated which may wake you, and as you drink water to relieve the dehydration it may cause you to get up to relieve yourself of the excess water.

For more information and hints and tips on getting a better nights click here to download the Sleep Guide