Alcoholism’s sleep impacts continue into sobriety - study
02-10-2009
New research published this week in the journal Sleep has shown that the negative effects of alcoholism on sleep quality can continue even after long periods of abstinence, underlining the long-term detrimental impacts of the condition.
The study, carried out at the University of Melbourne in Australia, involved 42 alcoholic patients and 42 healthy participants and compared their sleep patterns, looking at occurrences of NREM (non rapid eye movement) and REM stage sleep to determine overall sleep quality. It was found that long-term alcoholics who had not drank for up to 719 days found it harder to achieve slow-wave sleep on the levels of healthy participants. Also, the alcoholic patients experienced more regular occurrences of stage 1 NREM sleep, highlighting a consistently poor quality sleep.
The researchers coupled the cumulative effects of such poor quality sleep on wellbeing with the established ‘decline’ suffered by alcoholic patients.
“Previously the REM changes in the acute detox period were assumed to be related to a rebound of the REM suppression effects of alcohol,” said Ian Colrain PhD, researcher and director of the SRI International Human Sleep Research Program. “The persistence indicates that there is some possibly permanent structural/functional change in REM regulation mechanisms produced by long-term alcohol abuse.”
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The study, carried out at the University of Melbourne in Australia, involved 42 alcoholic patients and 42 healthy participants and compared their sleep patterns, looking at occurrences of NREM (non rapid eye movement) and REM stage sleep to determine overall sleep quality. It was found that long-term alcoholics who had not drank for up to 719 days found it harder to achieve slow-wave sleep on the levels of healthy participants. Also, the alcoholic patients experienced more regular occurrences of stage 1 NREM sleep, highlighting a consistently poor quality sleep.
The researchers coupled the cumulative effects of such poor quality sleep on wellbeing with the established ‘decline’ suffered by alcoholic patients.
“Previously the REM changes in the acute detox period were assumed to be related to a rebound of the REM suppression effects of alcohol,” said Ian Colrain PhD, researcher and director of the SRI International Human Sleep Research Program. “The persistence indicates that there is some possibly permanent structural/functional change in REM regulation mechanisms produced by long-term alcohol abuse.”
Each and every Ergo Flex visco elastic memory foam mattress offers pressure-relieving performance and is designed to give you the night’s sleep you’ve always dreamed of. Providing optimum support for your whole body, Ergo Flex mattresses ensure a restful and comfortable sleep, leaving you feeling rejuvenated and energised in the morning. See our memory foam mattresses page for details of our single, double, king size, European king size and super king size mattress versions, or call 0845 450 2338 to find out more.
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