The Tim Ferriss Show cover image

#650: Dr. Matthew Walker, All Things Sleep — How to Improve Sleep, How Sleep Ties Into Alzheimer’s Disease and Weight Gain, and How Medications (Ambien, Trazodone, etc.), Caffeine, THC/CBD, Psychedelics, Exercise, Smart Drugs, Fasting, and More Affect Sleep

The Tim Ferriss Show

00:00

How Does Caffeine Affect Your Sleep

Caffeine works by competing with adenosine in the brain, blocking the signal of sleepiness. It prolongs the time it takes to fall asleep and increases anxiety, making it harder to shift to the restful branch of the nervous system. The duration of caffeine's action is 10 to 12 hours, impacting sleep. Caffeine destabilizes sleep, making it more likely to wake up and harder to fall back asleep. It also decreases deep non-REM sleep, reducing its amount by about 30%. Even if you can fall asleep after consuming caffeine, you may still be losing out on the quality of deep sleep. This can lead to feeling less refreshed and reaching for more caffeine the next day, creating a vicious cycle.

Transcript
Play full episode

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
App store bannerPlay store banner