Why you sleep so badly around Christmas and New Year - and how to fix it

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

The festive season is synonymous with merry-making and overindulgence – particularly when it comes to drinking alcohol. Many of us groan under the weight of a hangover after an evening of Christmas revelry, but how does drinking affect our brains and bodies in the night?

We've turned to medical experts to understand why a few glasses too many can wreak havoc on our night's rest and leave us waking up sluggish.

Expert insight reveals that drinking alcohol derails our sleep in multiple ways. Dr Ashwin Sharma from MedExpress outlines the physiological reaction: "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.

He adds: "Alcohol initially depresses the central nervous system, producing feelings of relaxation or euphoria. "However, as alcohol is metabolised, the brain compensates by becoming more excitable, leading to restlessness, disrupted sleep, and increased heart rate during the second half of the night." Consumption of alcoholic beverages doesn't just stop at a restless slumber but also plays havoc with our internal rhythms.