Many people think that the old tale of a nightcap before bed is an excellent way of getting to sleep. However health professionals say otherwise. While it is true that a couple of drinks can help us fall asleep quickly, those drinks actually end up doing more harm than good. After about three hours of sleep, the alcohol in our system starts to dehydrate us which will cause restless sleep and wakefulness. It can also make us a prime candidate for sleep apnea, a dangerous condition where breathing can be strained or, in fatal cases, stopped all together. Instead of using alcohol as a way of getting to sleep, a herbal drink such as chamomile tea can be the answer to a good nights rest.

Alcohol dependent insomnia is a condition characterized by the assisted initiation of sleep onset by the sustained ingestion of alcohol that is used for its hypnotic effect. When these people refrain from alcohol they cannot get to sleep.