Alcohol hangover, sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness

Purpose: Heavy drinking has been shown to disrupt sleep, increase sleepiness the next day, and produce symptoms collectively referred to as ‘‘hangover’’. A survey was conducted to determine the impact of heavy alcohol consumption on sleep, daytime sleepiness, and hangover severity. Methods: N = 335 adults, experienced with alcohol hangover, completed a survey of sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and hangover symptoms comparing a heavy drinking occasion with a non-alcohol occasion. Data from those who reported >5-h sleep on the alcohol occasion were compared to those reporting <5-h sleep. Results: Participants consumed on average 22.4 (SD 16.8) alcoholic drinks per week. On their last heavy drinking session that produced a hangover, the number of alcoholic drinks they consumed equaled 14.3 (SD 8.2). Relative to a normal night of sleep, sleep quality was significantly worse after the last drinking session (p<0.006), and the following day daytime sleepiness was significantly increased (p<0.0001). When controlling for alcohol quantity, daytime sleepiness significantly correlated to overall hangover severity, whereas sleep quality and duration did not. Conclusion: Heavy alcohol consumption significantly reduces sleep quality, and significantly increases daytime sleepiness the following day.