It’s Thursday night, after a long work day and you are ready to sit back, relax and enjoy a nice glass or two of red wine. For some of you a glass of wine calms you down after a busy day and gets you ready for a good night rest, but could it be affecting your sleep?
Indeed, medical research strongly supports beneficial effects of red wine in moderation, especially in the reduction of heart disease. But as the saying goes, too much of a good thing…
Many people may not understand wine’s darker side when it comes to a good night’s sleep. For example, have you noticed that your spouse’s snoring, after a glass of a pinot noir, can drive the fleas off the dog? As little as one glass of wine near bed time can make a snoring bear of a fairy princess. Further, it can exacerbate or even induce obstructive sleep apnea in some individuals which, long term, can lead to high blood pressure and premature death from stroke, heart attack and accidents.
Disrupted sleep, whether from alcohol, apnea, insomnia or poor sleep habits is responsible for negative mood, diminished motivation, impaired mental clarity and a reduction in one’s general sense of well-being. This often translates into being short with the kids, disinterested in the spouse, disconnected from friends and snappy with co-workers. Forget that promotion.
So, raise your glass to a life of good health, but remember that alcohol on board at bedtime can be a dream killer.
