Sometimes falling asleep is no easy task, and for many it’s downright difficult to do under any circumstance. Due to its sedative effect, alcohol is a common choice for those who have a hard time finding a way to fall asleep. It’s important to consider the other effects, however, that alcohol will have—namely on the very sleep these people use it to achieve. Booze before bedtime may appear to ease the transition into dreamland, but what happens after that is well worth taking note of.

Adults function best with anywhere between 7-9 hours of sleep per night. The consumption of alcoholic beverages before bedtime, interestingly enough, will effectively serve to cut the number of hours actually acquired in half. In fact, drinking alcohol at any time three hours or less before bed can lead to both early waking and disruptions in the sleep cycle on the whole. The entire sleep process is advanced by alcohol intake: N-REM sleep [also know as "deep sleep"] increases, incrementally decreasing REM [or "Rapid Eye Movement" rest].

The problem is that you need both types, in very balanced doses. You may be surprised to learn that these facts don’t deter many: in recent studies, some 28% of insomniacs claimed to have depended on alcohol as a means for falling asleep, and fully 67% described the practice as helpful.

The difficulty with this nighttime “medication” approach is plain: alcohol can either make sleep disorders more frequent, or increase your susceptibility to acquire them. The most common sleep disorder that occurs as a result of the consumption of alcohol before bedtime is obstructive sleep apnea, and it’s one of the most destructive in regard to heart health. Drinking alcohol will narrow your air passages and thereby make it harder to breathe at night. As you gasp for the air that’s being blocked, your sleep cycle is deeply disturbed.

When air is obstructed in the passages, your heart must work much harder to get the oxygen that it needs, which results in lasting health problems if it persists over a long period of time.

Studies have shown that the consumption of alcohol even just an hour before bedtime causes major disruptions in the second part of the sleep cycle, which will lead to early awakening. As mentioned earlier, drinking alcohol before bedtime will not only shorten REM sleep but increase deep sleep. The resultant physiological state is known as “REM rebound.”

After consuming high doses of alcohol, the body becomes sedated, causing you to fall asleep quickly. After you begin to snooze, your body becomes adjusted to that alcohol running through your blood stream.

By the time the second part of the sleep cycle is underway, however, your body has metabolized [re: eliminated] the alcohol from your system, and it will attempt to return your metabolism to normal levels. This is where that rebound begins to occur. Instead of successfully returning to physiologically-normal levels [gauged by certain sleep variables such as the amount of REM sleep acquired at night] your body will over-compensate and change its course in the opposite direction, which results in a sleep disturbance.

Furthermore, this disturbance will disrupt the proportionality of the various sleep stages. When rebound and its associated disturbances occur, your body won’t feel fully rested the next day. We all know what that’s like: an unclear [or "foggy"] state of mind and a marked inability to perform simple tasks at an optimal and efficient performance level.

Several studies have evaluated next-day performance and alertness in healthy people who consumed alcohol before falling asleep. In one such study, young pilots drank alcohol between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. in quantities sufficient to result in BACs [blood-alcohol concentrations] of 0.10-0.12 percent right before bedtime. The following morning, over 14 hours after consuming alcohol and with BACs reset to 0, the performance of pilots in a flight simulator was significantly impaired when compared to their performance after imbibing a placebo.

The lack of continuity and longevity of the sleep they experienced after heavy drinking is the same as what everyone will suffer when doing so: it simply makes people slower and less attentive the following day.

It’s clear by now that the effects of alcohol on sleep can be dire. Though you may believe it’s helping you sleep, the consumption of alcohol before bed will only result in next-day fatigue and an inability to remain alert… and can actually lead to a serious sleeping disorder. Aside from the havoc it wreaks on your system when frequently drunk at high levels, alcohol can also be dangerous to others around you. There’s no question that critical mistakes are made every day by folks in all walks of life due to the effects of alcohol consumption, whether in the intoxicated state or, like the pilots mentioned, well after you think you’ve “slept it off.”

Remember that there are several alternatives to alcohol that are both healthier and more effective when it comes to getting the shut-eye you require on a nightly basis. For starters, you might try getting into a sleep routine, which is a tremendously effective way to train your body’s physiological nature into winding down at night.

You’re probably already aware that you should avoid caffeine, dairy products, and smoking before bedtime. Finally, consider going to bed an hour or two later—it can help you go to sleep faster because you’ll be more fatigued.

And bear in mind that your old mattress may be part of the problem… switching to memory foam will improve your body’s blood circulation and alleviate the pressure points associated with traditional innerspring mattresses so that you get more restful sleep each night. In sum, you can do better for your body than waking up with a hangover every day. It’s time to make strides toward getting some quality sleep without alcohol.

Even if you do own a fine memory foam mattress like ours at www.bedinabox.com, you must be sure to have good sleeping habits to help you fully enjoy it!

Alcohol Alert. National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa41.htm. Retrieved on July 28th, 2009.
Alcohol and Sleep.Loyola Marymount Universtiy. http://www.lmu.edu/PageFactory.aspx?PageID=25070. Retrieved on July 28th, 2009.;

Alcohol addiction has wide-ranging effects that encompass all aspects of the addict’s life. Some of the potential effects of alcohol addiction could include:

Physical effects – Pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, insulin resistance, alcoholic dementia, nutritional deficiencies, heart disease and in extreme cases; death.

Economic effects – Loss of employment and the subsequent financial problems that follow as a result.

Social effects – Social alienation due to unacceptable social behavior, marital conflict and divorce.

Legal consequences – Alcohol addicts often get into trouble with the law either because of public disorder or because of drunk driving.

Alcohol addiction affects not only the addict but also the addict’s entire family who could experience consequences that range from neglect to domestic violence to spouse and children.
Alcohol TreatmentAbruptly discontinuing the use of alcohol could result in severe symptoms including convulsions, hallucinations, seizures and shakes.

In severe cases it could cause heart failure and even death. Because of the critical nature of the symptoms, it is recommended that withdrawal issues should necessarily be controlled by a supervised detox.
Treatment for cessation of alcohol abuse typically includes managing the physical symptoms and bringing about behavioral changes. This is done by various therapeutic treatments ranging from medications to psychotherapy.

Antabuse and Natltrexone are two of the commonly used medications in the treatment of alcohol addiction. Antabuse works by creating an adverse reaction when alcohol is ingested and Natltrexone decreases the physical cravings of alcohol. Long term use of folate and vitamin B12 are often recommended to help overcome the damaging effects of chronic alcohol use on the liver.
Alcohol addicts can face a lifelong struggle in their effort to stay sober and relapse is a strong possibility on the long road to sobriety.

Unlike drug addiction, where it is often more difficult to obtain the drugs, alcohol is easily available and it is easier for a recovering addict to fall back into the habit of alcohol abuse. Often even one drink at a social occasion can trigger off the addiction. Several professionals hold the view that relapse is part of the learning process and is something that an addict has to go through to finally attain full abstinence from their addiction.

Social support and life training offer recovering addicts much needed support and are indispensable components of alcohol addiction treatment. Alcoholics Anonymous is one such organization that is committed to helping alcoholics beat their addiction and lead normal lives.

One of the important facts about alcohol is that it cannot be stored and therefore must be metabolized. The body begins this process by breaking down the alcohol into Nicotinamide Adenine Dehydrogenase (NADH) and acetaldehyde. After that, the body must then metabolize both of these substances. Unfortunately, the NADH and acetaldehyde are produced at a greater rate than which the body can metabolize them. In addition, some of the alcohol escapes into the blood stream unchanged.

The liver metabolizes acetaldehyde by converting it to acetic acid, and then to water and carbon dioxide in the Krebs cycle. However, because the production of acetaldehyde usually exceeds the liver’s ability to metabolize it, much of it ends up in the blood stream. This rapid buildup of acetaldehyde is primarily responsible for the harmful effects of alcohol. The presence of acetaldehyde inhibits the Krebs cycle in the mitochondria and can cause the following conditions:

1. It will slow down the metabolism by reducing aerobic lipolysis (fat burning) and aerobic glycolysis. This will force the body to use primarily anaerobic pathways such as anaerobic glycolysis, which can result in lactic acid buildup.

2. Since conversion of lactic acid back to glucose (gluconeogenesis) often requires aerobic lipolysis to support the reaction, the absence of this reaction can lead to excessive lactic acid buildup (lactic acidosis) as well as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

3. Because acetaldehyde can only be destroyed in the Krebs cycle (which is disrupted due to its presence), greater concentrations of acetaldehyde will reduce the rate at which the body can destroy it. If acetaldehyde is still being produced due to continued alcohol consumption, then this will lead to a vicious cycle that will aggravate the previously mentioned problems.

The production of NADH from alcohol does have some effects that can affect fitness and fat loss programs. NADH gives alcohol a caloric value of about 7 calories per gram. Also, because the body has no metabolic requirement for alcohol, all of these calories are empty calories. This will force the Krebs cycle to burn off these calories instead of burning fat. Since the Krebs cycle is inhibited by the acetaldehyde that is present, these empty calories will quickly accumulate and force the body into a state of lipogenesis (fat production). In addition, NADH increases the rate of conversion of pyruvic acid to lactic acid, which leaves less pyruvic acid available for conversion to glucose. When this is combined with the effects of acetaldehyde, it will aggravate the excess lactic acid buildup and increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Both of these conditions will degrade energy levels and athletic performance.

In summary, alcohol contains about 7 calories per gram. This is a high caloric density, which is second only to that of fat itself. Also, all of these calories are empty calories, which will either prevent you from burning fat, or will be turned into fat. It also induces hypoglycemia and excessive lactic acid buildup, both of which make it difficult if not impossible to exercise. There is no question that alcohol is one of the most fattening substances that a person can consume.

After getting out of a rehab center for 21 days, would one still have alcohol withdrawal symptoms? If so, how long would they last?

Cancer

2-4% of all cancer cases are related to alcohol. Upper digestive tract cancers are the most common, hitting the esophagus, mouth, larynx, and pharynx. Women who drink prior to menopause are more likely to develop breast cancer. Your risk of skin cancer doubles if you drink slightly more than “moderate levels.” Some studies implicate alcohol in colon, stomach, pancreas and lung cancer. And let’s not forget the liver…

Alcohol poisoning.

Drinking large amounts can result in alcohol poisoning, which causes unconsciousness and even death. Breathing slows, and the skin becomes cold and may look blue. Don’t let a person in this condition “sleep it off.”

Heart disease

Heart disease could be another effect of your drinking. Long term alcohol dependency has been know to be the cause of high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and even some strokes. Your liver is going to be affected by all your drinking and you might find yourself suffering from liver failure or even Cirrhosis of the liver.

Personal relationships

Personal relationships will suffer. As your disease progresses, alcohol begins to take control of your life. You will find that you cannot make even the simplest decisions. You will find that you would rather spend your time drinking than spending it with family and friends. Alcohol can also make you more violent then you are normally. Most domestic abuse involves drinking as well as some child abuse cases. Your temper and patience is much shorter than it would be if you were not drinking.

Dehydration

Alcohol has been known to mitigate the production of the ADH, which is a hormone that acts on the kidney, favoring water reabsorption in the kidneys during filtration. This occurs because alcohol confuses osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus, which relay osmotic pressure information to the posterior pituitary the site of ADH release. Alcohol makes the osmoreceptors signal as if there was a too low osmotic pressure in the blood, which triggers an inhibition of ADH. Consequently, one’s kidneys are no longer able to reabsorb as much water as they should be absorbing, leading to creation of excessive volumes of urine and subsequently overall dehydration.

Alcohol and pregnancy

Women who drink heavily during pregnancy are at risk of having babies with a condition called fetal alcohol syndrome. This can result in growth deficiencies, nervous system problems, lowered intelligence, and facial abnormalities in the child. It is also called fetal alcohol spectrum disorder – all the symptoms are not always present and can vary in how serious they are.

Psychological effects

Although alcohol initially makes people feel relaxed, long term excessive use can ultimately increase anxiety and cause depression. It is also related to problems with sleeping, mood-swings, violence and suicide (about two-thirds of suicide attempts are thought to involve alcohol).

Neurologically

Neurologically there will be some side effects also. Alcohol is a toxin that is going to do damage to your brain. You may find that you have a loss of balance, loss of intellectual abilities and unable to concentrate on anything. Your hands might become numb and you may feel that you are always in a state of mental confusion.

Alcoholism symptoms begin to appear in an alcoholic after consumption of alcohol over prolonged periods. To decide whether or not you are a chronic alcoholic you can ask yourself a few questions, like do you get offended when asked about your drinking, do you feel guilty about your drinking, have you tried to cut down on your drinking or do you need a drink first thing in the morning.

If the answer to any or all of these is yes you need help as these are the signs of an alcoholic.

Alcoholism symptoms can be divided into sub categories depending on the site of action or different symptoms. When we think of the sites that this poison works on, we realise that there isn’t a single system or organ which is left unaffected. Let us begin at the very beginning, so we take the brain and the nervous system.

The nervous system is affected in various ways, the commonest symptom of the nervous system affection is thiamine or b complex deficiency. Alcohol depletes the body of thiamine which is essential for the normal functioning of the nervous system, this leads to tingling and numbness in the extremities. Later these increase to psychosis, dementia and even stroke; blackouts are very common in alcoholics.

Though the physical signs and symptoms are not given much importance the puffiness around the eyes or swelling on the face are all indicators of heavy drinking leading to water retention. The next in line is the heart which gets severely damaged due to alcoholism.

Alcoholism symptoms like palpitations and throbbing are commonly reported, the reason being increased blood pressure. With raised blood pressure the heart starts getting larger; the cardiac muscles weaken and can lead to cardiac failure or angina.

The stomach is said to be the centre of the body, when this central organ gets affected most of the other body functions go hay wire. The mucosa of the stomach that is the lining gets eroded due to the alcohol causing inflammation or gastritis ending in gastric ulcers. Alcoholism symptoms get serious when the liver gets involved; it gets inflamed and enlarges with fatty tissue and scar tissue. All the metabolic functions of the liver get affected and deranged, from bile production to clotting factor manufacture.

This gives many symptoms from pain in abdomen, yellowish discoloration of skin and eyes, nausea, loss of appetite and diarrhoea. The end stage liver disease will give additional symptoms of cirrhosis like enlarged portal veins, capillary formations on the skin and abnormal or delayed blood clotting.

The blood chemistry is also altered with reduction in the production of white blood cells the immune mechanism of the body is down, this makes the addict susceptible to most infections. The worst symptom is the mental psychosis, altered nature and extreme tendency towards violence. All these symptoms make alcoholism a collective packet of many different illnesses, which are brought on oneself by the conscious consumption of alcohol.

The fact of the matter is that we can be saved from most of these illnesses if we just say no to alcohol.

Liver disease is a condition that is very common. It affects more people that you think. If you suspect yourself of having a liver disease symptom, then review your other symptoms to help you determine whether it is necessary that you take appropriate action to help protect your liver.

Liver disease symptoms can be hard to detect initially. For example, you may not realize that a loss of energy is associated with liver diseases. Little energy often is the first sign of liver problems and are readily confused with a myriad of other problems, including simple factors such as a reaction to a seasonal change or a lack of sleep.
A more obvious liver disease symptom is jaundice. Jaundice can cause a yellowing of the skin tone.

This is often accompanied by poor appetite and digestion. Digestive problems can also result in weight loss vitamin or mineral deficiencies. You may also find that you experience a bloating in the abdomen.
Another liver disease symptom to look out for is a change in the color of bowel movements.

Change in bile levels can give stools a lighter color. You may also find that your urination and thirst increase dramatically, although these can also be symptoms of diabetes as well.
In many cases of liver disease, an overuse of alcohol is the cause.

Liver disease shows a direct relationship between the amount of time and volume of alcohol consumed and the severity of damage to the liver; although overall health, nutrition, and genetic predisposition have some impact.

Malnutrition increases the odds of having liver disease.
By the time you discover your symptoms, it is very likely that your liver has been under strain for a period of time.

This being the case, you would need to reduce the overload on your liver. Some liver cleansing with herbs that aid in liver detoxification will help. Give your body and immune system a chance to recover. You may want to check with your health care professional how best to go about cleansing your liver and to strengthen it.
If you find yourself having liver disease symptoms, then ensure that you drink one half to one gallon of pure water per day to flush your liver. Incorporate foods rich in antioxidants in your diet to protect your tissues.

Consume herbal teas to provide protective and healing ingredients while flushing your liver with fluids.
A liver disease symptom may not be easily detectable, but due attention is needed if your liver is not working properly. If you are an alcoholic, then you would need to you would need to stop your drinking habits and go on a liver cleanse. It is crucial that you provide your body with proper nutrients and sufficient hydration so that it can function well.

If you are trying to prevent yourself from drinking too much alcohol at social gatherings or even in your daily life, there are certain things you should know about how to live a life that is balanced and alcohol-free. Here are a few ways that you can keep your alcohol intake under control.

One of the best things you can do to monitor your drinking is to plan your social life carefully.

If you want to stay away from alcohol, try to make sure that you are not always in tempting settings where alcohol is served. If you usually go to lounges and parties where there is a bartender or cocktails, try going to the movies or pack a picnic instead.

Not only will this give you and your friends something different to do when you go out, but you can be sure that you won’t have to deal with the pressure of drinking if you feel it may get out of control. In addition, the people that you are hanging out with won’t be drinking either, which takes the pressure off tremendously.

You should also make sure that you understand the connection between your drinking and your daily habits. If you normally drink when you are upset or stressed, pay attention to the things that make you upset and try to either eliminate them, or deal with them in a different way. For instance, if you are experiencing stress at work, and usually drink after work, try something else that relieves stress, such as taking a walk after dinner or listening to your favorite music.

You can also take advantage of meditation to clear your head and calm yourself down. This may feel strange to you at first but after a while, you will become accustomed to using alternative methods to make yourself feel better. It is also best to substitute drinking with positive activities as soon as possible. Even if you feel that you are just a social drinker and only drink when you are out with friends, you should use things like physical activity, your favorite television show, or spending time with loved ones to replace your tendency to drink.

Asking your doctor for advice is also a great way to get help if you think that your drinking is getting out of control. Your physician can refer you to counselors and therapists that can help you control your drinking before it becomes a serious problem that can ruin relationships with family and friends and eventually destroy your life.

It may be a good idea for you to visit an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting or two in your area, so that you can talk about your feelings in an environment where you won’t be judged. You will be pleasantly surprised by the insight you will find by listening to others who may have been in your shoes at one point. You will also be able to make an honest observation about whether or not you need to get more help.

No matter which methods you choose to get your drinking under control, it is important to be honest with yourself about how serious your problem is and to ask friends and loved ones for support while you’re making sure that alcohol does not take over your life.