Drinking alcohol before falling asleep on a long aircraft flight can lead to worrisome drops in blood oxygen levels and increased heart rates due to low air pressure, a German study has found.
Research by the department of sleep and human factors research at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine at the German Aerospace Center in Cologne, Germany found that even young, healthy individuals may experience negative effects on their heart from drinking alcohol at high altitudes during flights
Dehydration from dry cabin air and immobility in cramped seating can also contribute to health issues on long flights.
A study found that alcohol consumption at high altitudes caused a significant decrease in blood oxygen saturation and increase in heart rate, urging caution for those who enjoy drinking while flying.
Eva-Maria Elmenhorst of the Institute said “the decreased oxygen saturation together with the increase in heart rate could exacerbate pre-existing medical conditions. The oxygen saturation dropped to quite low levels during sleep. This is why I would recommend to avoid drinking alcohol even when someone is healthy.”
