A BT news report examines the impact of alcohol on sleep.

Occasional episodes of sleep deprivation are an annoyance, but they rarely cause any serious issues. For those people that suffer from persistent insomnia, it can have a significant impact on quality of life.

How we overcome sleepless nights will of course depend on the person, with muscle relaxation techniques popular, a focus on breathing another option, or perhaps… a nightcap?

Reaching for a glass
Alcohol may appear an attractive option at the end of a long day – research conducted

by Leeds University, in conjunction with bed store Silentnight, showed 38% of people admitted to drinking alcohol at least once a week to help their sleep.

But sleep experts have warned that the drug is actually more likely to disrupt your sleep further.

Dr Nerina Ramlakhan, Silentnight’s sleep expert, said: “For centuries, humans have relied on alcohol as a relaxant to ease our passage into sleep. I enjoy a glass of wine as much the next person but from a psychological perspective, any alcohol will affect your sleep.”

Get the full story at www.bt.com