{"id":26783,"date":"2022-12-09T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-09T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/hangover-and-sleep\/"},"modified":"2023-08-28T23:13:52","modified_gmt":"2023-08-28T23:13:52","slug":"hangover-and-sleep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/hangover-and-sleep\/","title":{"rendered":"Can a Good Night’s Sleep Cure Your Hangover?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you’ve ever gotten a hangover before, then you probably don’t need me to describe the symptoms for you. While every person is different, it’s safe to say anyone who’s ever had a hangover is familiar with tiredness, thirst, headaches<\/a>, irritability, and maybe even nausea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you do find yourself with a hangover, the only thing on your mind is how to get rid of it as soon as possible\u2014and what works for you may not work for someone else. But have you ever wondered if getting extra Z’s could help?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like most questions that pertain to sleep, this one isn’t black and white. But there are a few tips and tricks that could help your hangover\u2014and sleep is definitely one of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s the connection between hangovers and sleep? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hangovers and sleep are definitely connected in more ways than one. If you don’t have a good, restful night’s sleep, you’re more likely to experience persisting hangover symptoms the next day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But drinking alcohol in and of itself can actually prevent you from having a good night’s sleep before the hangover even starts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to studies<\/a> on alcohol and sleep<\/a>, you tend to spend more time in the lighter stages of sleep and REM sleep<\/a> (the period when you dream) during the later part of the night, after you’ve thrown back a few cocktails. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can lead to feeling less rested the day after. Drinking can also help you fall asleep faster but cause frequent wake-ups in the middle of the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So yeah, it’s kind of a double-edged sword. Getting a good night\u2019s sleep can help ensure your hangover symptoms aren\u2019t too severe the next day, but consuming alcohol can make it harder to sleep well and therefore worsen hangover symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can sleep help ease a hangover?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The answer to this question is yes and no. Sleep can definitely lessen the severity of your hangover symptoms, but it\u2019s not a cure-all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you fall asleep after consuming alcohol, it might be more difficult to prep your space for optimal sleep\u2014but if you can do so, it’ll certainly be worth it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This might include sleeping in breathable, comfortable clothing, turning the temperature down to the optimal sleep level<\/a> (between 60 and 67 degrees), and drawing the shades so you’re not disturbed too early in the morning by sunlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One study <\/a>actually found the severity of hangovers people experienced the next day wasn’t dependent on the amount of alcohol they drank but on the quality of sleep they got after drinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another<\/a> suggested less sleep after drinking led to increased cognitive impairment as well as worsened hangover symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to use sleep to lessen the effects of a hangover<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are a few ways you can utilize sleep to feel better the day after drinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n