Have you ever unknowingly gone on an adventure at night after drinking a few drinks? Sleepwalking is something that happens more often when you drink alcohol. An alcoholic break can stop sleepwalking. Aren’t you a sleepwalker? Taking a break has a positive effect on your sleeping behavior.
Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder. People suffering from sleepwalking experience brief interruptions to REM sleep during deep sleep. Also called dream sleep. Alcohol reinforces this model. It ensures you sleep deeper and also have more interruptions during that deeper sleep.
| Violent sleepwalking
Research shows that 58 percent are violent during sleepwalking. 17 percent injure themselves or their bed partner. This is because sleepwalkers often have nightmares. |
Goodbye sleepwalking adventure, hello sleep
Since sleepwalking can significantly disrupt sleep, it is important to avoid sleepwalking. This means that you avoid alcohol (you already do, chapeau!), That you avoid stress during the day as much as possible (exercise regularly in the fresh air, listen to your favorite music or take a hot bath if you are feeling stressed) and take a nap during the day. A nap during the day ensures that you sleep less soundly at night. Source: psychologymagazine.nl.
Taking a break is good for sleep
Not everyone goes out unknowingly at night. However, you may experience sleep problems. An alcoholic break can help you sleep better at night. 55 percent of IkPas participants experience a better night’s sleep. This is because alcohol can really ruin your sleep cycle. Here you can read how and what.
That drink just before bed is relaxing, welcoming, and even helps you fall asleep faster. All the advantages. But now it comes: that drink helps at the start of your night, but breaks you down overnight. Alcohol really ruins the sleep cycle.
The sleep cycle
The sleep cycle works like this: sleep consists of dream sleep (REM sleep) and deep, regular sleep (NREM sleep). During the night, our body cycles several times during the night. Your body starts with NREM sleep, then switches to REM sleep and returns to NREM sleep. A sleep cycle lasts about 90 minutes. Drinking alcohol before bed increases deep sleep and decreases the amount of dream sleep.
Wrong order
Furthermore, drinking alcohol has an effect on the order of the sleep cycle. Alcohol brings out the first deep sleep (REM sleep). This means that you dream earlier and the brain has to process all the information and impressions of that day faster. The second part of the night, REM sleep occurs much later, overloading the brain. Since deep sleep does not happen proportionally, sleep problems occur. Such as sleepwalking, sleep talking and sleep apnea. It also increases the risk of intense dreams or nightmares.
