Sleep and alcohol

We all need to Improving sleep quality in older age is crucial for overall health and well-being.

It could be that hormonal fluctuations, particularly a decline in oestrogen levels, can disrupt sleep in women.

This can lead to symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats, and mood swings, making it harder to fall and stay asleep.

But as we age anyway our biorhythms change.

Understanding these changes and exploring strategies like relaxation and breathing techniques, a consistent sleep schedule and a regular stretching routines to release tension in the body can help.

One strategy is to reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption. Alcohol can disrupt sleep patterns, reduce REM sleep, and lead to frequent awakenings, ultimately diminishing sleep quality. I know I bang on about it but it’s really helped me get into a pattern more restorative and uninterrupted sleep. I have replaced alcohol with non-alcoholic alternatives which are increasingly tasty. There are so many ‘grown up’ alternatives to alcohol nowadays that feel celebratory and where you don’t feel excluded or strange in a social situation.

The younger generation seem to have embraced sobriety but many people my age are suspicious and sometimes even resentful of non-drinkers. So the non-alcoholic lagers and the range of kombuchas go quite a long way to addressing the gap.

And they don’t have any of the negative effects of alcohol. What’s not to love?