The exact function of sleep is still unknown as of the moment, however, it has been proven that sleep plays a very big role in keeping one function well all throughout the day. Evidences of lack of sleep can definitely have serious consequences to a person’s overall health, can increase one’s risk of developing depression, impaired breathing patterns, and even medical disorders related to the heart. If a person suffers from a lack of sleep during the night, it is most likely for that person to suffer from daytime sleepiness and may probably not be able to function well in doing various daytime activities.

Alcohol Consumption and Sleep

There are some people who are not aware about the consequences of alcohol consumption. Alcohol can be a triggering factor of the development of various sleep disorders since it can disrupt a person’s sequence and duration of sleep. Disruption of sleep will result in a changed total sleep time, since there will be changes in the time a person can fall asleep. Being able to know how alcohol affects the sleeping patterns and what are alcohol consumption & disturbed sleeping pattern’s consequences to the body can help in preventing and or decreasing health-related risks.

Alcohol and Sleep of Non-Alcoholic People

Effects of alcohol consumption to one’s sleeping pattern will differ in people who are suffering from alcoholism and to people who are not. On how alcohol promote or prevent sleep will also depend on the time alcohol is being ingested and the amount of alcohol ingested.

• During Bedtime – If alcoholic beverages are consumed at bedtime, it can help in promoting sleep since alcohol has a sedating effect that can put someone to sleep. There are even some people who are suffering from insomnia who find relief in consuming alcoholic beverages at bedtime help them fall asleep.
• Within an Hour of Bedtime – It has been proven that consuming alcohol within an hour of bedtime can disrupt the second half of a person’s sleep. There will be no problems in falling asleep and staying asleep during the first half of the sleep period, but during the second half of sleep, the person will most likely awaken and find it hard to go back to sleep.

For those people who are always drinking alcohol to help them fall asleep should keep in mind that regular and continuous alcohol consumption can decrease its sleep=promoting effect.