What is one effect of alcohol on sleep?

Alcohol significantly disrupts normal sleep cycles and rest quality. While many people may believe that alcohol helps them fall asleep more quickly, its overall impact on sleep is detrimental. After the initial sedative effects wear off, alcohol can lead to fragmented sleep, causing individuals to wake up more frequently throughout the night.

Additionally, alcohol affects the balance of different sleep stages, particularly reducing the amount of REM sleep, which is essential for restorative sleep. As a result, even if a person seems to fall asleep faster, the quality of that sleep is often poor, leading to feelings of fatigue and grogginess the following day. This disruption in the sleep cycle ultimately harms the body's ability to achieve the deep, restorative sleep that is necessary for overall health and well-being.