New Year's Eve warning as doctors reveal how alcohol ruins your sleep

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Tonight is Hogmany and people across Scotland will be ringing in the New Year as they wave goodbye to 2024. Scots will gather with loved ones to raise a toast at the bells - and often have a fair few more drinks too.But revellers must take measures to safeguard their sleep or risk unwanted health repercussions long into the 2025, a doctor has warned.

After several weeks of office parties and festive fun, many of us will be familiar with the unpleasant sensation of waking up with a hangover.

But doctors warn that the impacts of alcohol on our sleep patterns can be far more harmful – and difficult to shake off. So how does drinking alcohol affect our brains and bodies, and why does this sabotage our sleep?“When you drink alcohol, your body prioritises breaking down alcohol over other bodily processes, leading to the accumulation of toxic byproducts like acetaldehyde, which can cause inflammation and fatigue,” explains Dr Ashwin Sharma, a leading medical professional at MedExpress.This tiredness is only worsened as your body responds to the intoxicating effects of alcohol.

Although booze initially depresses the central nervous system to produce feelings of relaxation, your brain counteracts these effects by becoming more active.