A recent study published in the medical journal Thorax highlights potential risks associated with consuming alcohol before sleeping on long flights. The study, conducted in an environment simulating airplane cabin conditions, revealed significant changes in blood oxygen levels and heart rates among participants who consumed alcohol before sleeping.
The research, conducted on 48 healthy adults aged 18 to 40, divided participants into two groups. One group experienced sleep conditions under sea-level air pressure, while the other group encountered air pressure similar to that experienced during airplane travel at cruising altitude. In each group, 12 participants consumed alcohol equivalent to two cans of beer or two glasses of wine before sleeping for four hours, while the remaining 12 participants slept without consuming alcohol.
Results showed that participants who consumed alcohol before sleeping in the simulated airplane cabin environment experienced a decrease in blood oxygen saturation to an average of 85% and an increase in heart rate to approximately 88 beats per minute. In contrast, those who consumed alcohol before sleeping at sea level exhibited a blood oxygen saturation decrease to 95% and a heart rate increase to 77 beats per minute.
Researchers cautioned that even young and healthy individuals faced strain on their cardiac systems when combining alcohol intake with sleeping under hypobaric conditions, potentially exacerbating symptoms in individuals with cardiac or pulmonary diseases. They emphasized the possibility of escalated health risks and medical emergencies during flight, particularly among older individuals and those with pre-existing medical conditions.
The study underscores the importance of restricting in-flight consumption of alcoholic beverages, based on its observed effects on blood oxygen levels and heart rates in a simulated airplane cabin environment.
