Sleeping Pills and Holiday Habits: What You Need to Know

Overeating

Huge meals are an inevitable part of the holidays and they can make anyone feel uncomfortable, no matter what time a meal is served. But the impact of overeating is even greater within two hours of bedtime. "Your body starts delivering blood to the wrong places, to help you digest. Your blood sugar goes up and makes your body feel more energetic, which makes it harder to sleep," explains David Schulman, MD, codirector of the Emory Clinic Sleep Disorders Lab in Atlanta. Though Dr. Schulman doesn't recommend that patients eat a large meal so close to bedtime, he says it's fine to take your meds as normal if you can’t avoid the situation. Just know that you might have a more difficult time falling—and staying—asleep.  

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