How Can Alcohol Make Sleep Apnea Worse?

A quick drink before bed can’t hurt, right? Unfortunately, that likely isn’t the case. Research has shown that alcohol can potentially affect the quality of your sleep – and in people who have sleep apnea, it may lead to more severe symptoms. If you’ve been struggling with sleep apnea recently, here’s why you should think about giving up nighttime drinking for the sake of the quality of your slumber.

How Does Alcohol Generally Affect Your Sleep?

While you may hear some people talk about how alcohol helps them fall asleep faster, this isn’t the full story. The type of sleep that alcohol induces is highly fragmented, making you more likely to wake up repeatedly during the night. As a result, you’ll constantly be pulled out of the sleep cycle and may never get to the important later stages; consequently, you may feel tired and sluggish in the morning.

In short, any benefit alcohol might have as a sedative is outweighed by the way it can hurt the quality of your sleep.

How Can Alcohol Affect Sleep Apnea?

Alcohol before bed can be a particularly bad idea for people with sleep apnea. This disorder is often the result of the muscles in your throat collapsing and cutting off the flow of air. When you drink alcohol shortly before falling asleep, it can cause your throat muscles to become especially relaxed – and thus more likely to collapse. Consequently, your sleep apnea symptoms may be even worse than usual.

Additionally, many alcoholic beverages contain histamine, which can sometimes lead to congestion. This is significant because congestion can be a possible contributor to sleep apnea.

How Can You Improve the Quality of Your Sleep if You Have Sleep Apnea?

After being diagnosed with sleep apnea, your top priority should be to make any lifestyle changes that are necessary for improving your ability to get quality shuteye. Naturally, this includes not drinking alcohol right before falling asleep. It’s generally recommended that you stay away from alcoholic beverages for at least two hours prior to your planned bedtime.

Of course, you should also seek some form of professional treatment for your sleep disorder. For many people, this might mean using a CPAP machine. However, if this form of treatment proves too uncomfortable or noisy for you, there may be another option: ask your sleep dentist for an oral appliance that can help you maintain a clear airway by adjusting the position of your jaw.

Ignoring sleep apnea for too long can be dangerous, so be sure to get in touch with an expert who can help as soon as possible if you have any reason to think you might have it. Take whatever steps you need to in order to enjoy a good night’s sleep again, whether that means giving up your nightcap or making other changes.

About the Author

Dr. Stephen Dean is very passionate when it comes to sleep apnea therapy, and he has completed a number of advanced courses regarding the topic. He currently belongs to the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and the Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorder Disciplines. If you think you may have sleep apnea, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Dean at Covington Sleep Center by visiting his website or calling (770) 710-5268.