Is it OK to have a glass of wine or alcoholic beverage to help me sleep?

Dr. Michael Breus, PhD

Psychology

Not really. While alcohol might make you drowsy or sleepy, it will keep you out of the deep stages of sleep. In addition alcohol is a diuretic and will make you have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, further disrupting your sleep. It really is better to keep our wine with your meal, rather than at bedtime.

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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

Alcohol & Health

Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol daily, such as one to two 12-ounce beers or 5-ounce glasses of wine, was once thought to offer certain health benefits, particularly for heart health. However, those benefits have increasingly been questioned, and experts have become more aware of the risks, including liver disease and several types of cancer. And excessive drinking is known to lead to serious health problems, such as strokes, dementia, pancreatitis, high blood pressure and dementia. Factoring in all the risks of benefits, some researchers now conclude that no level of drinking is completely safe.

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