How Does Alcohol Consumption Disrupt Sleep?

Alcohol Consumption May Disrupt Sleep in Women

Alcohol consumption may cause more sleep disruption in women than in men, according to a recent study.

Alcohol interferes with sleep patterns by disrupting the nerve chemicals in the brain that regulate sleep, including dopamine and serotonin. Small amounts of alcohol may cause initial sleepiness; however, this can be deceptive as the disruption in the nerve chemicals may alter the natural sleeping cycle.

In a new study, 93 healthy adults with an average age of 24.4 years old were evaluated for sleep quality following alcohol consumption. Sex, family history of alcoholism, subjective rating scales and polysomnography (PSG) were considered.

Following an initial PSG screening, which measures the physiologic changes during sleep, including breathing patterns and limb movement, the adults consumed alcohol until intoxicated or placebo. The Stanford Sleepiness Scale and the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale were given to each participant before bed and in the morning. PSG monitored sleep during the night.

Compared to the placebo group, the researchers found that alcohol reduced sleep efficiency and increased restlessness. Furthermore, the quality of sleep, regardless of family history, was more disrupted in women than in men. Drowsiness was also higher in women following alcohol consumption.

The authors concluded that alcohol consumption increases drowsiness, but reduces sleep quality in women more than in men. More research is necessary to confirm these findings.

References
1.Arnedt JT, Rohsenow D, Almeida A, et al. Sleep Following Alcohol Intoxication in Healthy, Young Adults: Effects of Sex and Family History of Alcoholism. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2011. DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2010.01417.
2.Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. www.naturalstandard.com

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