Woman sleeping on a plane.
Rudy_Swardi | E+ | Getty Images
A common hobby on long-haul flights – drinking alcohol before bed – may pose health risks even for young and healthy passengers, a new study shows.
The combination of alcohol consumption, sleep, and low oxygen concentration at high altitudes has been found to challenge the cardiovascular system and prolong the duration of hypoxemia, or low blood oxygen levels.
Researchers at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine of the German Aerospace Center and Aachen University also said that this habit reduces sleep quality and recommended that airlines restrict the consumption of alcoholic beverages on board.
Eva-Maria Elmenhorst, co-author of the study, told NBC News that the team was “surprised to see that the effect was so strong” and recommended avoiding alcohol while flying.
The study suggests that sleeping on a plane actually exacerbates low blood oxygen saturation caused by low atmospheric pressure in aircraft cabins.
Under the additional effect of alcohol consumption, laboratory tests showed that participants' blood oxygen saturation decreased further, heart rate increased and deep sleep decreased.
The study found that even “young and healthy participants” experienced “clinically relevant” desaturation and accelerated heart rate during sleep.
“High doses of alcohol can amplify these observed effects, potentially exacerbating the risk of health complications and medical emergencies during a flight, especially among older adults and those with pre-existing medical conditions,” she added.
