Part 2/7:
Studies show that alcohol can increase the appearance of deep slow-wave sleep but creates a less nourishing state compared to natural sleep. This occurs because alcohol disturbs the natural sleep architecture, leading to fragmented sleep, especially in the first half of the night.
Fragmentation and Deep Sleep Deprivation
The most detrimental effect of alcohol on sleep is sleep fragmentation. Alcohol acts on the sympathetic nervous system, leading to multiple brief awakenings throughout the night. Most people don’t remember these interruptions, but they can have significant consequences.