You’re out with your friends enjoying a nice meal. You’ve just finished your third glass of wine when everyone decides it’s time to head home. After being dropped off at home, you get into bed only to wake up the next morning exhausted and feeling as if you got no sleep at all. Living with sleep apnea can be hard enough, but pair it with wine, liquor, or beer, and you’re likely to feel even worse. To find out why sleep apnea and alcohol are such a bad combination, keep reading.
Why Alcohol Worsens Sleep Apnea Symptoms
While drinking your favorite alcoholic beverage before bedtime is a great way to wind down and become more relaxed, it can have a negative effect on your sleep patterns.
For example, if you have sleep apnea, the alcohol’s ability to induce a more comfortable and relaxed state means that your soft oral tissues will be more likely to fall back on your airway, creating a blockage. Not only will you stop breathing, but your sleep will be interrupted by waking and gasping for air.
Alcohol is also known for preventing deeper sleep and entering into the REM cycle. This is necessary to ensure that you are well-rested and that your brain and body have had a chance to fully recover. Instead, you remain in the stages of light sleep.
Without adequate rest, you risk daytime fatigue, drowsy driving, and even falls or injuries.
How to Make Necessary Lifestyle Changes
First and foremost, if you’re not already being treated for your sleep apnea, find a local sleep dentist who can help. This will ensure that you receive the necessary treatment to improve your symptoms and work toward better-quality sleep.
Second, while having sleep apnea does not mean that you must forgo alcohol, you will need to be more aware of when you consume your favorite spirits. Instead of drinking up until bedtime, you’ll need to make sure that you finish your last beverage several hours ahead of time.
If you plan to be in bed by 10 p.m., let water be your beverage of choice starting at 7 or 8 at the latest. This will give the alcohol some time to dissipate and have a less impactful effect on your sleep when it’s time to call it a night.
Waking up feeling refreshed and ready for the day will help you realize that it’s worth switching over from wine to water earlier in the evening. It will also help to improve your overall health in the long run.
About the Practice
Our team at Star Sleep & Wellness in Plano is here to make living and thriving with sleep apnea possible. Using trusted treatment options that are effective and personalized, we are committed to helping individuals embrace a better quality of life. If you have sleep apnea but want to find ways to get it under control, contact us to find out how we can help.