nd returns to sleep. Recurring episodes of apnea followed by arousal can occur hundreds of times each night, significantly reducing sleep time and resulting in daytime sleepiness. Those with alcoholism appear to be at increased risk for sleep apnea, especially if they snore. Snoring is caused by the numbing of throat nerves due to alcohol consumption. In addition, moderate to high doses of alcohol consumed in the evening can lead to narrowing of the air passage, causing episodes of apnea even in persons who do not otherwise exhibit symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. Alcohol's general depressant effects can increase the duration of periods of apnea, worsening any existing case of obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with impaired performance on a driving simulator as well as with an increased rate of motor vehicle crashes in the absence of alcohol consumption. Among patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea, alcohol consumption at a rate of two or more drinks per day is associated with a fivefold increased risk for fatigue-related traffic crashes compared with obstructive sleep apnea patients who consume little or no alcohol. In addition, the combination of alcohol, obstructive sleep apnea, and snoring increases a person's risk for heart attack, arrhythmia, stroke, and sudden death. As mentioned previously, driving is another serious risk of drinking before sleeping. As this interrupts a persons sleep patterns and arouses them from sleep numerous times during the night, a person is naturally tired and fatigued the next morning. Driving fatigued behind the wheel is extremely dangerous, studies show. People fall asleep behind the wheel and put their lives and the lives of others at risk. Finally, something worth mentioning that is alcohol and sleep related is the hangover. This occurs the day after a person wakes up from drinking the night before, and also affects the way one sleeps. A "hangover" is what happ...
