A nightcap may sound like a good way to improve sleep, but due to the harm done to the brain and the quality of sleep, it is actually detrimental.
Especially when taking alcohol right before going to sleep, as it has a terrible effect on your brain and the quality of your sleep. While it is true that alcohol has been referred to as nature’s sleep remedy because it can help one fall asleep faster, it has a number of effects on the brain that interfere with sleep quality and result in various problems.
First of all, alcohol affects the REM sleep stage, whereas the REM sleep stage is crucial to various cognitive processes including memory, learning, and mood. The process of consolidation of emotions and memories occurs in the period called REM sleep, and, therefore, any violation in this period reveals the deterioration of cognitive functions and emotional state.
Drinking alcohol prior to bedtime can produce cognitive alterations that are irreversible. Research has also demonstrated that the impacts of alcoholism include brain volume decrease, which is related to regions of the brain important for memory and plan execution. These can include difficulty concentrating or managing difficulties, as well as general indicators of dementia development.
The alcohol also has a diuretic effect, which means it helps in the production of urine. This makes individuals wake up frequently at night in order to relieve themselves, which interrupts sleep patterns and thus decreases sleep efficiency. Also, taking alcohol before going to bed is also very bad for people who suffer from sleep apnea, a sleeping disorder that is marked by interrupted breathing. This results in poor sleep quality and increases the chances of developing serious health complications, which include high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases.
Furthermore, while alcohol may make you sleepy at first, it is a diuretic, and your body works it through quickly, and this causes increased wakefulness and physical restlessness in the small hours of the night. This interferes with the normal sleep architecture, and one wakes up feeling tired and sleepy the following day.
Avoidance of alcohol and drugs close to bedtime or developing a rigid sleep schedule is one way of practicing good sleep hygiene that helps in the preservation of the brain and ensuring that an individual gets sound sleep.
