It probably comes as no surprise that alcohol has a negative impact on sleep quality, but why does something that seems to help you drift off actually turn out to be problematic?

Mike Stone, MD, shares two main reasons why alcohol and sleep don’t mix:

Alcohol disrupts normal sleep architecture, leading to nighttime waking and reduced sleep quality.
Alcohol suppresses REM sleep, which is critical for learning and memory.

For an eye-opening experiment, try using a wearable sleep tracker and observe the results. You’re most likely to notice decreased HRV, increased resting heart rate, and decreased REM sleep.

Still want to enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine? Dr. Stone suggests these strategies to help mitigate the negative effects of alcohol consumption:

Minimize the total amount of alcohol you consume.
Keep your alcohol consumption earlier in the evening, further away from sleep.
Use a sleep tracker to run experiments and determine which types of alcohol and what circumstances result in the smallest impact possible for you personally.

To learn more about CrossFit Precision Care and how to get involved as a healthcare provider or patient visit care.crossfit.com.

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every week.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice. I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

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