Cardiovascular risks of drinking alcohol on flights
Image credit: garybpt via Unsplash
According to new research published in the journal Thorax, drinking alcohol while flying may put strain on the cardiovascular system of sleeping passengers. The study evaluated the impact of alcohol and sleep in a low air pressure environment, similar to that experienced in airline flights, and found that blood oxygen levels decrease to concerning levels and heart rates increase. The combination of drinking alcohol and experiencing low oxygen levels at high altitudes impairs sleep quality, strains the heart, and extends periods of low blood oxygen levels. These findings suggest that even healthy travelers might need to reconsider drinking alcohol on flights.
Source
Trammer RA, Rooney D, Benderoth S, et al. Effects of moderate alcohol consumption and hypobaric hypoxia: implications for passengers’ sleep, oxygen saturation and heart rate on long-haul flights. Thorax Published Online First: 03 June 2024. doi: 10.1136/thorax-2023-220998