New Research Shows That Napping After Drinking Alcohol in Airplane Pressure Environments is Harmful to Health.
A study published in the Thorax Medical Journal on August 13 reveals that in the low-pressure environment of an airplane, blood oxygen levels decrease and heart rates increase. According to Dr. Ashish Sarraju, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic, low blood oxygen levels and increased heart rates mean the heart has to work harder to compensate for the reduced oxygen.
For young individuals, this type of stress can feel slightly tiring. However, for those with heart or respiratory conditions, such as heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or sleep apnea, this situation can lead to dizziness and shortness of breath. Drinking alcohol increases the risk of needing emergency medical assistance during flights.
“Large amounts of alcohol in the body increase the risk of health complications, leading many to require emergency care, especially older adults with pre-existing health issues. Our findings suggest that you should limit alcohol consumption on airplanes,” the study emphasizes.
To conduct the analysis, experts divided 48 healthy adults aged 18 to 40 into two groups. The first group went to a sleep laboratory at sea level pressure. The second group entered an air pressure chamber similar to that found in a stable airplane altitude. Some volunteers slept for 4 hours after consuming two cans of beer or two glasses of wine. The remaining participants slept without alcohol.
Some airlines serve alcoholic beverages during flights. (Photo: Flickr).
As a result, those who drank alcohol before sleeping in the simulated airplane chamber experienced a drop in blood oxygen saturation to 95%, with heart rates increasing to 77 beats per minute. Typically, healthy individuals have blood oxygen saturation levels between 95% and 100%, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Oxygen saturation levels below 90% can be detrimental to health.
Through this research, scientists recommend that people carefully consider their decision to drink alcohol on airplanes, due to reactions that may be “stronger than anticipated.” Dr. Eva-Maria Elmenhorst, an associate professor of Sleep and Human Factors at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine and one of the authors of the study, even advises people to avoid alcohol entirely when flying.
In fact, even under normal circumstances, drinking alcohol close to bedtime can lead to various health issues. As the body metabolizes alcohol overnight, sleep quality deteriorates. Many individuals find themselves waking up in the middle of the night, and the kidneys have to work harder.
