Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Snoring and Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

The remaining five studies did not provide additional information about how alcohol was quantified [25], [28], [29], [42], [46]. Ten of the 31 included studies reported alcohol consumption as a binary exposure, comparing any intake with no intake [5], [24], [25], [27], [28], [29], [34], [39], [42], [47]. Since both primary outcomes and secondary outcomes were continuous measures, weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. The D-L random effects model was utilized to pool WMDs of the included studies. Additional analyses where results were expressed in terms of standard mean differences (SMD) were also performed.

1. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to examine the impact of alcohol consumption on respiratory parameters during sleep in all subjects regardless of comorbidity.
2. It’s advisable to moderate alcohol consumption even when using a CPAP machine.
3. Observational studies in multiple countries have analyzed whether people who drink alcohol are more likely to have OSA.
4. Results were extracted from the individual studies as either adjusted measures of effect, crude measures of effect, or using raw data.

Alcohol is one of the most commonly used psychoactive substances in the community. Alcohol also increases breathing-related sleep events such as snoring and oxygen desaturation, especially in those with pre-existing problems. Emerging data demonstrate that insomnia may co-exist with SSD and circadian abnormalities. Future studies should unravel these tentative associations in individuals who misuse alcohol. The latest clinical research shows that drinking alcohol, especially close to bedtime, leads to a higher AHI rate (that means you stop breathing more times per hour) and lower oxygen saturation in your blood.

In this study, we found that anxiety symptoms were more strongly correlated with PSQI-K values than depression symptoms and that women showed greater correlation between PSQI-K values and anxiety or depression symptoms as compared to men. A 2020 study reviewed medical data from 279 patients diagnosed with OSA and further separated them into one control group that didn’t drink versus another group that did. However, when alcohol enters the picture, even regular breathing can become difficult.

Additionally, a 2021 study noted that alcohol did serve as an independent risk factor that could increase a person’s likelihood of experiencing OSA. Alcohol is known to increase your chances of snoring loudly if you drink before bed. This can cause problems achieving proper REM sleep, especially in those with sleep apnea. We also did the logistic regression analysis of Tables ​Tables22 and ​and33 in different gender, and the results were similar (Tables S1 and S2). However, the ORs were not significant in both male and female, and this may due to the reason that few women were drinkers in China for the cultural impact. If you have sleep apnea, certain steps may help avoid the impacts of alcohol on your breathing during sleep.

Thirteen studies reported effect estimates adjusted for confounders [5], [13], [23], [24], [25], [30], [31], [32], [34], [36], [40], [43], [47]; with six adjusted for smoking [5], [24], [25], [30], [35], [47]. Lower scores were primarily due to lack of adjustment for confounding factors, instead using selective populations or a self-report assessment of alcohol exposure. It is also important to make sure that your CPAP machine is set up under typical sleeping conditions. If you normally drink alcohol most days but stop for your titration study, the pressure may not be enough to maintain your airway on nights you have been drinking.

Frequently Asked Questions About Alcohol and Sleep

An autoCPAP machine can adjust the pressures through the night, which may help to avoid this issue. Forest plot of mean difference in apnea-hypopnea index on alcohol-exposed nights versus placebo nights in subjects with OSA. Your daily habits and environment can significantly impact the quality of your sleep.

This can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness and other issues the following day. Drinking to fall asleep can build a tolerance, forcing you to consume more alcohol each successive night in order to experience the sedative effects. During apnea-related breathing behavioral modification and alternative schools for troubled teens episodes – which can occur throughout the night – the sleeper may make choking noises. Some studies suggest that alcohol contributes to sleep apnea because it causes the throat muscles to relax, which in turn creates more resistance during breathing.

How Does Alcohol Affect Other Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders?

You’ll spend more time in lightwave sleep, you’ll wake up more often, and you won’t get restful sleep. Maybe you wake up with a very dry mouth, or wake up in the middle alcohol addiction signs symptoms of the night gasping for air. Among both men and women, depression symptoms and anxiety symptoms were significantly correlated with increased PSQI-K values.

The differences in the means and proportions were evaluated using Student’s t- and chi-square tests, respectively. Logistic regression models were used to identify the association between alcohol consumption on OSA. This case–control study involved inpatients with suspected OSA admitted from August 2014 to December 2017 to a large Chinese tertiary hospital. The inclusion criteria were (1) inpatients with suspected OSA and (2) inpatients who agreed to have overnight polysomnography (PSG) examination and were able to tolerate it.

Can alcohol withdrawal affect sleep apnea?

Alcohol causes the muscles in the mouth and throat to relax, which makes these tissues susceptible to fluttering and making noise as a person breathes in and out. For those navigating the complexities of OSA with alcohol consumption, CPAP therapy can be an invaluable ally, offering a complementary approach to lifestyle changes for improved sleep quality. Additionally, the impact on sleep quality can affect cognitive function and mental health, making it a broader health concern. Investigations into the connection between alcohol and sleep apnea have yielded insights that are critical for those seeking to manage this sleep disorder effectively. By altering the structure and function of the airway during sleep, alcohol can create an environment conducive to the onset of sleep apnea episodes.

Is It Snoring or Is It Sleep Apnea?

Typically, if you stop breathing while asleep, the brain will trigger a wake-up response to reopen the airway. These interruptions can occur multiple times an hour, disrupting sleep quality and overall health. Drinking alcohol can disrupt your sleep cycles and decrease the amount of time you spend in REM sleep and deep sleep. Even if you’ve been sleeping for 7 to 9 hours, you may wake up feeling tired.

The demographic data and accompanying disease information, including age, gender, smoking status, alcohol consumption, height, weight, echocardiographic findings, and other medical conditions, were collected by a trained primary nurse. Age, gender, BMI, coronary is there a connection between narcissism and alcoholism heart disease (CHD), and stroke were adjusted in multivariate regression analysis. CHD and stroke were confirmed by the attending physicians of the Cardiology Department of the large Chinese tertiary hospital according to WHO MONICA diagnostic criteria [12].

Specifically, the researchers found that alcohol consumption was higher in women, and those individuals had a higher AHI score. In this study, we found that alcohol consumption was an independent risk factor of OSA and OSA with hypoxia, and alcohol consumption was related with AHI significantly after adjustment, especially in female. In order to reduce the risk and severity of OSA, it is suggested that people should avoid drinking, and drinkers should abstain from drinking. In this study, we found that alcohol consumption was an independent risk factor of OSA and OSA with hypoxia, and alcohol consumption was related to AHI significantly after adjustment, especially in female. Drinking not only increases your likelihood of developing either form of sleep apnea, but it can also make existing cases worse.

In addition, a reduction in the mean SpO2 with alcohol compared to placebo was noted, however, the clinical relevance of this reduction is likely minimal. By limiting the amount of alcohol consumed, especially in the hours leading up to bedtime, individuals can reduce the likelihood of exacerbating their sleep apnea symptoms. The relaxant properties of alcohol can result in further sleep apnea issues as well.

We studied the effect of alcohol ingestion on sleep-induced breathing abnormalities and arterial oxyhaemoglobin saturation in seven patients with a range of sleep-induced upper airway occlusion. The characteristics of each patient’s sleep-induced breathing abnormality was established on one or more control all-night studies, and then a further all-night study was done immediately following alcohol ingestion. Alcohol increased the duration and frequency of the occlusive episodes in five patients with obstructive sleep apnoea, and resulted in a marked increase in the degree of hypoxaemia in the first hour of sleep. In two patients with benign chronic snoring, alcohol induced frank obstructive sleep apnoea during the first hour of sleep. Additionally, a June 2020 meta-analysis published in the journal Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery examined 1,266 manuscripts to learn more about the effect of alcohol consumption on sleep apnea.

Even if you don’t have a drinking disorder, moderate or heavy drinking can cause episodes of sleep apnea. For example, after one night of drinking you’re far more likely to snore in your sleep, or wake up many times in the night. While alcohol is a depressant that initially makes individuals feel drowsy and may help them fall asleep faster, it can disrupt the quality of sleep. Alcohol relaxes the muscles in the throat, which can lead to the collapse of the airway, causing breathing difficulties and increasing the frequency and severity of sleep apnea episodes. Detailed records of the sleep respiratory monitoring test results and patient information collected during hospitalization were reliable.