How do alcohol and caffeine negatively influence sleep?

Alcohol and caffeine both have well-documented negative impacts on sleep quality and patterns. Caffeine is a stimulant that can significantly reduce sleep latency, meaning it may help someone fall asleep faster initially. However, it disrupts the overall quality of sleep and negatively affects the natural sleep cycle, often leading to fragmented sleep and less restorative sleep stages.

Alcohol, on the other hand, might initially help people feel sleepy and fall asleep quickly, but it is known to decrease the quality of sleep as the night progresses. It can lead to disturbances in REM sleep and increase awakenings during the night, which ultimately reduces the restorative benefits of deep sleep.

Consequently, the correct choice highlights that both substances reduce sleep latency but ultimately lead to a decrease in overall sleep quality, making it difficult for an individual to achieve a healthy sleep pattern.