Yes, smoking before bed is bad. Nicotine is a stimulant, hindering both falling asleep and staying asleep.
While you might think a cigarette relaxes you before bed, it actually has the opposite effect. The nicotine in cigarettes acts as a stimulant, interfering with your sleep cycle in several ways:
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Difficulty Falling Asleep: Nicotine makes it harder to relax and calm your mind, delaying the onset of sleep.
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Interrupted Sleep: As a stimulant, nicotine can cause you to wake up more frequently during the night.
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Reduced Sleep Quality: Even if you don't wake up, nicotine can disrupt the normal sleep stages, leading to less restful and restorative sleep.
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Withdrawal Symptoms: During the night, as nicotine levels drop, you may experience withdrawal symptoms, further disrupting your sleep.
Ideally, you should avoid smoking altogether. However, if you do smoke, it's recommended to abstain for at least two hours before bedtime. This allows your body to metabolize some of the nicotine, reducing its impact on your sleep.
