"Does Drinking Alcohol Help You Sleep?" Doctor Who Drank Daily Sees Results After Quitting

British Doctor Reveals Effects After 2 Years of Abstinence
"Able to Sleep Well After 8 Weeks of Abstinence"

A doctor in the UK has gained attention by sharing a case of overcoming sleep disorders after quitting alcohol. Local media highlighted that this could serve as a rebuttal to the mistaken belief held by some that "alcohol helps with sleep."

Dr. Alex George, a British doctor and Youth Mental Health Ambassador for the UK Department of Education, revealed the effects of two years of sobriety through his YouTube channel. Dr. Alex George Instagram

On the 16th (local time), the British daily The Guardian reported that Dr. Alex George, a doctor from Wales, UK, who also serves as a youth mental health ambassador for the UK Department of Education, recently posted a video titled "I Quit Drinking and It Changed My Life" on his YouTube channel. In the video, Dr. George revealed, "It has been two years since I quit drinking," and shared how his sleep habits changed afterward.

Dr. George, who had been relying on alcohol after losing his family four years ago, decided to quit drinking two years ago after confronting his deteriorated self. He explained that he used to fall asleep by relying on alcohol, but when he first quit, he struggled to fall asleep easily. He also frequently experienced strange dreams and felt fatigued even after sleeping. However, these sleep disorders disappeared after eight weeks. After achieving deep sleep, Dr. George said his daily life changed and that "the decision to quit drinking brought a positive domino effect to my life."

The Guardian pointed out that Dr. George’s case could serve as evidence to counter the mistaken perception held by some that "alcohol helps with sleep." Professor Russell Foster of Oxford University explained, "Some people drink alcohol for better sleep, but it is important to remember that sedation and sleep are different."

According to research, sleep is divided into REM sleep, which is light sleep, and non-REM sleep, which is deep sleep. Alcohol consumed before bedtime increases the duration of non-REM sleep in the early part of the sleep period. This can make it feel like one falls into deep sleep quickly after drinking, but in reality, the REM sleep time is reduced, causing one to wake up easily. Professor Foster pointed out that a lack of REM sleep can lead to memory loss, decreased concentration, and emotional regulation problems. He also stated, "Alcohol relaxes the upper airway muscles, which greatly increases the likelihood of snoring and sleep apnea caused by airway obstruction during sleep."

These short-term effects, when accumulated over a long period, can lead to insomnia. The Guardian added that two-thirds of patients with alcohol dependence suffer from insomnia, which is a higher rate compared to healthy adults (one-third), according to research findings.

Professor Foster explained that even after quitting alcohol, it takes some time for sleep habits to recover. In Dr. George’s case, it took eight weeks, but this period can be longer depending on the individual. He further explained, "Drinking a glass of wine before bed can reduce sleep quality by about 10%, but once you start feeling intoxicated, sleep quality can drop by 40%," emphasizing that the closer the drinking time is to bedtime, the worse the sleep quality becomes.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.