Question
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Followup To
Question -
I don't believe I have a drinking or sleep problem, so I'm not really sure to whom I should address this question.
I'm 63, in excellent health (e.g., a resting heart rate of 55, blood pressure of 110/70, eat well, exercise daily), with almost a zero tolerance for alcohol. One drink makes me sleepy. Two would knock me out. I've never tried the second drink.
Occasionally (a few times a month at most) I have active-brain syndrome. That's my expression for a brain that won't shut down and can keep me from falling asleep. A shot of rum puts me right to sleep.
I have taken advantage of this, substituting alcohol for Tylenol PM, when I have trouble falling asleep. To my way of thinking, a shot of alcohol a day has health benefits whereas ibuprofen or Tylenol can cause kidney or liver problems.
I know that alcohol doesn't produce quality sleep, but I've assumed that this meant getting drunk doesn't promote a quality evening experience.
Does a single shot (1.5 or fewer ounces) when needed to promote sleep destroy the quality of the sleep? I always wake up fully rested and energetic.
Answer -
Yes it definitely does.What you call active braIN SYNDROME IS YOUR SLEEP CYCLE BEING DISRUPTIVE DUE TO THE ALCOHOL.ALCOHOL INDUCES SLEEP BUT TOO QUICKLY THEN WHEN IT WEARS OFF THE ALCOHOL IS STILL IN YOUR BRAIN SO DISRUPT YOUR CYCLE,AND SINCE YOU HAVE A DRINK A NIGHT,THIS JUST BUILDS UP.tYLENOL PM IS SIMPLY BENADRYL,WHICH ALSO IF STOPPED AFTER TAKEN REGULARLY WILL PRODUCE REBOUND INSOMNIA.tHE BEST THING TO DO IS.sTAY AWAY FROM CHOCOLATE,EXERCISE,COKE,PEPSI,ALCOHOL,DRUGS AT LEAST 3 HOURS BEFORE SLEEP AS THEY ALL INTERFER WITH RESTFUL SLEEP.GO TO BED AND WAKE UP THE SAME TIME EACH DAY.iF YOU FIND YOURSELF TWISTING AND TURNING GET OUT OF THE BED AND DO SOMETHING BORING LIKE READING A BOOK,DO NOT TWIST AND TURN,AS THE BED SHOULD JUST BE ASSOCIATED WITH SLEEP.iF FALL ASLEEP ON SOFA TRY AND GET TO THE BED,aND GOOD OLD RELIABLE WARM MILK ,ITS TRUE HAS TRYPTOPHAN WHICH INDUCES SLEEP SO A GLASS EACH NIGHT CAN HELP.iF SYMPTOMS STILL PERSIST CONTACT YOUR PHYSICIAN TO SEE IF YOU NEED TO BE EVALUATED AT A SLEEP CENTER.fEEL FREE TO EMAIL AGAIN,KAREL
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I don't have a drink each night. The active brain syndrome occurs, for example, when I am working on an interesting problem or get a creative thought and try to further develop it. So no, my sleep cycle isn't being interrupted by alcohol. I typically sleep very well each night.
I do stay away from chocolate, exercise, coke, pepsi, and alcohol at least 3 hours before going to bed, I do go to bed and wake up the same time each day. I have used non-fat milk or yougrt before bed on nights I think I need an extra aid. Again, I typically sleep very deeply most nights. But then a great idea strikes or I have to make a presentation the next day, and that's when the active brain syndrome strikes. One shot, and I'm out like a light until the alarm wakes me. I'm aware of no turning and twisting or interrupted sleep.
Do you still think that single shot is destroying my quality of sleep?
Thanks.
Ron
Answer
yes,you might think, you sleep deeply but im sure during the day when you have this active brain syndrome,its really the build up of alcohol causing it.you also will find if you dont drink every night that drink you will get a rebound of agitation and insomnia,but after about a month your cycle will be normal again.
