Alcohol and Sleep
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that causes brain activity to slow down. Alcohol has a sedative effect that can induce feelings of relaxation and sleepiness, but the consumption of alcohol – especially in excess – has been linked to poor sleep quality and duration. People with alcohol use disorders commonly experience symptoms of insomnia. Recent studies have also shown that excess alcohol use can exacerbate sleep apnea.
Alcohol and withdrawals
The more you drink, the more likely you are to be affected by withdrawal symptoms. In order to keep health risks from alcohol to a minimum, and if you’re a healthy adult, you should drink no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day. The less you drink, the lower your risk of harm from alcohol. For some people, not drinking at all is the only option. You should also have at least 2 alcohol free days a week.
If you suddenly decrease your intake or stop drinking altogether, you might experience withdrawal symptoms. Those are potentially dangerous and should be treated as a serious warning sign that you are drinking too much. Withdrawal symptoms happen when someone who is dependent on alcohol is deprived of it. Withdrawal symptoms can be physical and psychological, and range in severity from mild to severe.
Typical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can include:
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Hand tremors (‘the shakes’)
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Sweating
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A pulse rate above 100 beats per minute
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Loss of appetite
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Nausea
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Vomiting
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Irritability
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Restlessness
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Headaches
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Depression
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Anxiety
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Insomnia
Milder symptoms usually start within eight to 24 hours from the last alcoholic drink. Severe symptoms can additionally include hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t real), as well as seizures or delirium tremens (‘DTs’).
Delirium tremens
Delirium tremens is a severe indication of alcohol withdrawal. Symptoms include:
- Severe disorientation
- Increased heart rate
- Blood pressure and breathing problems
- Uncontrollable restless behaviour
- Hallucinations and psychosis
Severe withdrawal effects can be life threatening. Approximately one in 10 people with alcohol withdrawal syndrome are affected by seizures. If left untreated, up to one in three of these people go on to experience delirium tremens. If you (or someone you’re looking after) experiences repeated vomiting, severe shaking or hallucinations, seek medical attention immediately.
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome and thiamine
Wernicke syndrome and Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) are distinct but overlapping disorders that occur due to a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1). WKS is primarily an encephalopathy. WKS mainly causes vision changes, antaxia and impaired memory. It is sometimes confused with early onset dementia since the symptoms can be similar. It is therefore very important to take a vitamin B1 (thiamine) supplement every day if you drink alcohol regularly.
If you drink alcohol regularly, it is VERY important to take vitamin B1 (thiamine) every day. Thiamine is readily available at any pharmacy and is an "over the counter" medication. No prescription needed.
