MadSci Network: Biochemistry |
I am not aware of any studies that have shown that people regularly wake up earlier than normal after drinking alcohol. In fact, the opposite may more often be true. When someone consumes ethanol (the type of alcohol found in drinking alcohol), it begins to build up in the bloodstream. There is a type of enzyme in the body called alcohol dehydrogenase that oxidizes the ethanol and produces the chemical acetaldehyde which is very toxic. Another enzyme called aldehyde dehydrogenase converts the acetaldehyde to acetate, which is benign. People generally require additional rest to recover from the ill effects of heavy drinking (a “hangover”) because of the toxicity of acetaldehyde. Ethanol also has many adverse effects on the central nervous system – sedation, dizziness, depression, anxiety, nausea, memory loss, confusion and aggression to name just a few. Your sleep cycle is regulated by your central nervous system, so when you consume alcohol you can certainly expect to have your sleep cycle affected. For some people this may mean waking up earlier, and for others it may mean waking up later. Also, alcohol is a diuretic, which means that it makes you have to urinate more frequently. This is how your body responds to the need to eliminate toxic substances (such as acetaldehyde). This leads to dehydration – the body’s need for water. The metabolism of alcohol is also believed to reduce the level of sugars in the bloodstream, leaving the body in need of food. For these reasons, someone who drinks heavily before going to sleep may wake up early because they are thirsty and hungry.
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