What effects does alcohol have on sleep?

What effects does alcohol have on sleep?

• A. Decreases sleep latency and REM; increases wakefulness and NREM; worsens OSA
• B. Increases REM
• C. Decreases wakefulness
• D. Improves sleep architecture

Answer: (A)

Alcohol acts as a sedative at sleep onset, so you fall asleep faster. But it disrupts sleep architecture as the night goes on. It markedly reduces REM sleep, so the REM portion of the night is diminished. Early in the night it can increase non-REM sleep, but as the body metabolizes the alcohol, sleep becomes more fragmented with more wakefulness later in the night. This leads to poorer sleep continuity overall. In people with obstructive sleep apnea, the muscle relaxation alcohol causes can worsen airway collapse, making apnea events more frequent. So the overall pattern is faster sleep onset, less REM, more interruptions and non-REM sleep early on, and worse OSA risk.

Alcohol acts as a sedative at sleep onset, so you fall asleep faster. But it disrupts sleep architecture as the night goes on. It markedly reduces REM sleep, so the REM portion of the night is diminished. Early in the night it can increase non-REM sleep, but as the body metabolizes the alcohol, sleep becomes more fragmented with more wakefulness later in the night. This leads to poorer sleep continuity overall. In people with obstructive sleep apnea, the muscle relaxation alcohol causes can worsen airway collapse, making apnea events more frequent. So the overall pattern is faster sleep onset, less REM, more interruptions and non-REM sleep early on, and worse OSA risk.