Why you shouldn't drink alcohol on a plane

© Markus Spiske/Pexels

When you travel by plane, it is very common, depending on the company, to be offered food and drinks, especially on long-haul flights. A study carried out by researchers from the Institute of Aerospace Medicine of the German Aerospace Center reveals, in fact, a truth that is disturbing to say the least. The combination of alcohol consumption and sleeping at altitude would exert additional pressure on an organ that is vital to say the least: our heart.

The combined effects of alcohol and altitude

To carry out their research, the researchers divided a group of 40 volunteers into four separate cohorts. Two of them slept under normal atmospheric pressure conditions, with or without alcohol consumption. While the other two groups were subjected to a simulation of the pressure prevailing in airplane cabins, again with or without ingestion of alcoholic substances.

Each of the participants concerned was administered an amount of alcohol equivalent to two cans of beer or two glasses of wine. They were then subjected to a rest period limited to four hours, thus mimicking the conditions of disturbed sleep that one can experience when traveling by plane.

In a normal pressure environment, the volunteers who had consumed alcohol displayed an average blood oxygen saturation of 94.97% accompanied by a heart rate of 76.97 BPM. In contrast, sober people had respective values ​​of 95.88% and 63.74 BPM. However, when subjected to the pressure conditions of an airplane cabin, oxygen saturation levels dropped drastically to ~60>85.32% for drinkers versus 88.07 % for abstainers, with heart rates climbing to 87, 73 BPM and 72.90 BPM.

Serious implications for cardiovascular health

Consumption of alcohol in conditions of altitude therefore leads to a more pronounced decrease in blood oxygen saturation levels, coupled with a significant increase in heart rate. Indeed, the clinical standard for acceptable blood oxygen saturation for good health is set at 90%, while the values ​​observed in flight prove to be lower than this threshold, ~60%. ~strong> therefore imposing an additional load on the cardiovascular system. A particularly alarming situation for people already subject to heart problems.

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

What's more, this double phenomenon of low oxygenation coupled with an acceleration of the rhythm heart rate results in a reduction in the time spent in deep and REM sleep phases, yet essential for optimal recovery. This means that not only does alcohol affect your heart health, but it also disrupts the restorative quality of your sleep, thereby exacerbating the fatigue and stress associated with flying.

A call for vigilance for passengers

Faced with this public health issue, researchers insist on the need to inform people. “ Public awareness on this subject should be strengthened through patient associations, public campaigns and written airline health advice& nbsp;» they explain.

Certainly, the temptation to relax with a drink on the plane can be important, whether to celebrate the’ arrival from vacation or unwind after a tiring business trip. Nevertheless, caution remains in order, especially for vulnerable or elderly people, who could find themselves exposed to even more pronounced effects of this combination.

Nothing is more useless than demonizing any substance whatsoever&#8217 ;she is ; Educating about consumption is the best way to reduce the risks. Think about that the next time you order a whiskey or a beer while flying 12 km above the ground. Moderation remains in all cases the key word when drinking, but even more so on board a plane it seems .

• Researchers have linked drinking alcohol on planes to greater blood pressure on the cardiovascular system.
• Test subjects who consumed alcohol under pressurized cabin conditions had higher BPM and lower oxygen saturation than sober subjects.
• For researchers, this discovery should be an opportunity for airlines to strengthen their awareness campaigns on this topic.

📍 To not miss any news from Presse-citron, follow us on Google News and WhatsApp.

325.3k reviews

[ ]