Drunk Sleep: What Really Happens?

Drinking alcohol before bed can have a negative impact on sleep quality and quantity. While alcohol may help people fall asleep initially, it causes disruptions later in the night, resulting in less REM sleep. This can lead to feelings of tiredness the next day. Additionally, there are risks associated with letting a drunk person sleep, as they may choke on their vomit, stop breathing, or develop alcohol poisoning. If someone is extremely drunk, it is recommended to keep them awake and supervised until they sober up. To improve sleep quality and avoid sleep drunkenness, it is advised to avoid alcohol, especially close to bedtime, and to establish healthy sleep habits.

Alcohol poisoning

The risks of alcohol poisoning are serious and include the possibility of coma, respiratory depression, and even death. When a person is intoxicated, their blood alcohol level can continue to rise while they sleep, and they may become unconscious rather than asleep. This is because alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary actions such as breathing, heart rate, and the gag reflex. As a result, a person could vomit without waking up and choke on the contents.

If you suspect someone is experiencing alcohol poisoning, it is important to call emergency services immediately and not leave them alone. Some early signs of alcohol poisoning include altered consciousness, slowed respiration, repeated and uncontrolled vomiting, and cool, pale skin. While waiting for emergency services to arrive, you can help by keeping the person awake and supervised, ensuring they are in a safe place where they cannot injure themselves, and turning them on their side with a pillow behind them to prevent choking in case they vomit.

It is important to continually monitor the person's breathing and level of consciousness, checking on them every 10-15 minutes. Even if the person appears to be sleeping peacefully, they may still be at risk of alcohol poisoning or other complications.

Choking on vomit

If a person is extremely drunk, it is advised not to let them sleep as they could choke on their vomit or experience alcohol poisoning. It is recommended to keep them awake and supervised until they are sober. However, if they do fall asleep, they should be placed in the recovery position and monitored regularly. If they show signs of alcohol poisoning, such as vomiting while asleep, it is important to call emergency services immediately.

The recovery position is crucial in preventing choking on vomit. When a drunk person is placed on their side, gravity helps to ensure that any vomit will drain from the mouth instead of blocking the airway. This position also makes it easier for a bystander to clear any vomit or debris from the person's mouth if necessary. Additionally, the recovery position helps to maintain an open airway and facilitates breathing. By turning the person onto their side, the tongue is also turned onto its side, reducing the risk of it blocking the airway and causing asphyxiation.

To place a person in the recovery position, first, kneel beside them and place the arm nearest to you at a right angle to their body with the palm facing upwards. Then, bring the leg farthest from you up and place it so that the foot is flat on the ground, while keeping the other leg straight. Next, carefully roll the person towards you so that they are lying on their side, with the upper leg supporting the body and the head tilted downwards to allow any vomit to drain. Finally, check and maintain a clear airway by opening the person's mouth and gently tilting their head back. It is important to regularly check on the person and ensure they are still in the recovery position, as they may move or roll over during sleep.

In summary, choking on vomit is a serious risk for drunk people who are asleep or unconscious. To prevent this, it is vital to place them in the recovery position on their side and monitor them regularly. If a person is extremely drunk, it is recommended to keep them awake and supervised, but if they do fall asleep, placing them in the recovery position can help prevent choking and reduce the risk of asphyxiation.

Poor sleep quality

Alcohol negatively impacts sleep quality and quantity. Even in moderate amounts, alcohol consumed in the hours before bedtime can disrupt sleep and leave one feeling tired the next day. Alcohol can cause sleep disruptions later in the night, and heavy drinking and alcohol dependence are associated with difficulty falling asleep.

A typical sleep cycle consists of three non-rapid eye movement (NREM) stages of sleep, followed by a rapid eye movement (REM) stage. During sleep, the body cycles through all these stages every 90 to 120 minutes, with NREM sleep dominating the first part of the night and REM sleep increasing during the second part. Each stage is necessary for sleep to feel refreshing, and for vital processes like learning and memory consolidation to occur.

When one goes to bed drunk, they are likely to experience more N3 sleep, or "deep sleep," and less REM sleep than usual, at least initially. Additionally, alcohol can cause the heart rate to speed up during REM sleep, which should occur about 90 minutes into sleep. A 2011 study in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research found that with each additional shot of alcohol, the heart rate increases, leading to greater interference with the sleep cycle. This interference can cause one to wake up a few hours later, feeling alert and making it difficult to fall back asleep.

Long-term alcohol use can result in chronic sleep problems and disorders like sleep apnea. Nearly 90% of respondents who regularly consume alcohol in the evening have reported at least one sleep-related problem. Poor sleep quality can also make one more likely to experience sleep drunkenness, which can interfere with relationships if it bothers partners or family members.

Increased heart rate

When a person goes to bed drunk, their heart rate tends to increase. This happens because alcohol acts as a vasodilator, which means it causes blood vessels to dilate and allows blood flow to increase. This increase in blood flow speeds up the heart rate, making the body feel hot and sweaty.

Usually, the heart rate speeds up during REM sleep, which is typically attained about 90 minutes after falling asleep. However, when drunk, people quickly fall into REM sleep, resulting in a higher heart rate than usual. Additionally, a 2011 study in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research found that with each additional shot of alcohol, the heart rate increases, causing greater disruption to the sleep cycle.

While alcohol can depress the nervous system, aiding in deeper sleep during the first half of the night, it can cause a person to wake up a few hours later, feeling alert. Once the alcohol has left the system, it is harder to fall back asleep.

It is important to note that even when a drunk person appears to be sleeping peacefully, they may still be at risk of alcohol poisoning or other complications. Therefore, they should not be left alone and should be monitored every 10 minutes to check for signs of vomiting, rolling over, or changes in breathing.

Risk of injury

Sleeping while drunk can lead to a range of risks and potential injuries. One of the primary concerns is the risk of choking on vomit. Alcohol consumption can cause nausea and vomiting, and if a person vomits while asleep, they may choke on the contents without waking up. This risk can be mitigated by placing the person in the recovery position on their side and ensuring that someone regularly monitors them.

Additionally, a drunk person's impaired judgment and coordination increase the risk of falling and injuring themselves. They might also make poor decisions that put themselves or others in danger. For example, they could attempt to drive while intoxicated, increasing the risk of an accident.

Another concern is alcohol poisoning, which can be life-threatening. Even if a person appears to be sleeping peacefully, their blood alcohol level can continue to rise while they sleep, leading to alcohol poisoning. It is crucial to monitor the person's breathing and level of consciousness regularly and seek immediate medical assistance if alcohol poisoning is suspected.

Furthermore, long-term alcohol use and drunk sleeping can result in chronic sleep problems and disorders. These can include sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and insomnia. Sleep drunkenness can also lead to confusional arousal, where individuals act strangely or aggressively when woken up, potentially harming themselves or others.

To reduce the risk of injury when dealing with a drunk person, it is recommended to keep them awake and supervised until they are sober. Placing them in a safe environment, removing choking hazards, and encouraging them to drink water are also important measures to ensure their safety.

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