Coffee and alcohol, the combination that puts rest at risk

Coffee and alcohol, the combination that puts rest at risk

November 18, 2023 – 09:00

The study warns about the effect of alcohol and caffeine consumption on health and sleep. I know the risk of depending on these substances in the long term.

Researchers of the University of Washington and the University of California at Berkeley conducted a study on the effects of coffee and alcohol on sleep of people. This combination could have significant effects on your rest and health.

Alcohol and caffeine are two of the most used substances in the world to alter human consciousness. Their effects on sleep are popularly known, but little is known about how they actually act on the body when consumed together.

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What is the effect of alcohol and coffee on sleep?

Contrary to the initial hypothesis, the combination of both substances did not result in an additional decrease in the subjective quality of sleep or its duration.

A group of financiers was selected to conduct the study due to the need for attention and cognitive speed required in their profession. The regularity of caffeine and alcohol consumption to mitigate stress was also considered.

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During the first stage, they tested the individual impact of caffeine and alcohol on the body. The consumption of Caffeine decreased a person’s sleep time by an average of 10 minutes per cup consumed the previous day. On the other hand, alcohol affected sleep quality by 4% per drink on average. But then they decided to see what happened when they were consumed together, and if it was true that the combination of these two substances worsens the quality of sleep.

Long-term sleep consequences

The result of the study also revealed that People who frequently consume alcohol and caffeine may develop a cycle of self-medication, in which they use one substance to mitigate the negative effects of the other. For example, drinking caffeine during the day to stay awake after a night of heavy drinking.

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However, caffeine can reduce the amount of sleep the person gets that night, which can lead the person to drink more alcohol the next night to compensate for the lack of sleep. fall into this Self-medication cycle can be detrimental to sleep in the long term.

Coffee and alcohol consumption can have significant effects on sleep quality and duration of people, although these effects may vary depending on the amount consumed and individual sensitivity.

Effects of coffee on the body

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  • Stimulating: Coffee contains caffeine, a central nervous system stimulant. Caffeine can increase alertness, reduce feelings of fatigue, and improve concentration.
  • Causes insomnia: Consuming coffee, especially in large quantities or around bedtime, can interfere with sleep. Caffeine can make it difficult to fall asleep and reduce the quality of sleep.
  • Caffeine metabolism: The rate at which a person metabolizes caffeine can vary, meaning that sensitivity to coffee also differs between individuals.

Effects of alcohol on deep sleep

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  • Sedative effects: Although alcohol can have initial sedative effects and help you fall asleep, its impact on sleep quality is complex and can affect sleep in the long term.
  • Deep sleep disruption: As alcohol is metabolized, it can disrupt the deeper phases of sleep. This can result in less effective rest.
  • Increased nighttime awakenings: Consuming alcohol before bed can increase the likelihood of nighttime awakenings.
  • Tolerance development: Over time, the body can develop a tolerance to the initial effects of alcohol on sleep, meaning that the benefits to falling asleep may diminish over time.

Source: Ambito

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