New Research Suggests That Drinking Alcohol And Sleeping During Air Travel Can Cause Significant Blood Oxygen Level Decreases And Heightened Cardiac Strain, Even In Healthy Young Adults

LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS - stock.adobe.com - illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS - stock.adobe.com - illustrative purposes only, not the actual person

After traveling to the airport, lugging heavy luggage, trudging through long TSA lines, and racing to your gate, arguably the best part about finally boarding your flight is being able to order a cocktail, sit back, and relax.

But, if you choose to indulge in some drinks during air travel, you might not want to get too comfortable.

A new study has found that combining alcohol with sleeping at high altitudes can actually cause significant decreases in blood oxygen levels, as well as heightened cardiac strain, even in healthy and young individuals.

When flying on a commercial airplane, the cabin is usually pressurized to an altitude of approximately 8,000 feet, which is similar to the height of a small mountain. So, the air is thinner and has less oxygen at this altitude compared to sea level.

The human body is typically able to adapt to these conditions while sober. However, the consumption of alcohol may interfere.

This latest research was conducted by scientists at the German Aerospace Center and included 40 study participants, who were aged 18 to 40. The participants were split into two different groups. The first group slept in a standard sleep laboratory at sea level; meanwhile, the second group snoozed in a simulated airplane environment inside an altitude chamber.

The chamber was pressurized to 2,438 meters, which is equivalent to typical cruising altitude air pressure.

Participants in both groups slept one night after drinking alcohol – specifically vodka. Then, they spent another night sleeping sober.

The amount of alcohol consumed by each participant was intentional, aiming to achieve a blood alcohol level of 0.04%. This translated to approximately two beers or two glasses of wine. Additionally, the sleep window was restricted to just four hours from 12:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. This was done to replicate a typical sleeping period while aboard a flight.

LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person

The results revealed that study participants who consumed alcohol prior to sleeping at a high altitude experienced a median blood oxygen saturation drop to 85%, and some levels fell even lower. On the flip side, those who consumed alcohol in the sea-level group only saw a decrease to 95%.

Prolonged exposure to oxygen levels below 90% is considered clinically significant hypoxia, or a state of oxygen deprivation. Interestingly, even those who abstained from alcohol in the high altitude group still spent over 80% of their time sleeping in this state of hypoxia.

Furthermore, the study revealed that those who drank alcohol in the high-altitude group also experienced notable increases in heart rate as their cardiovascular systems tried to make up for the oxygen shortage.

Their median heart rates rose to 88 beats per minute; meanwhile, those who drank at sea level were 77, and those who were sober at sea level were 63.

During a lengthy flight, this added cardiac strain could be worrisome, particularly for travelers in old age or who have preexisting health conditions.

Finally, the consumption of alcohol at high altitudes also impacted sleep quality. The study found that participants spent less time in REM and the restorative stages of deep sleep. Plus, they woke up more frequently after falling asleep.

Now, the research does have some limitations to consider. Primarily, the participants slept in a “supine” position, which is more practical in business or first class. So, passengers flying economy – who sleep upright – might experience different effects.

Additionally, the study’s sample size was relatively small and included only young, healthy adults. This suggests that findings may not be fully representative of the general public.

Lastly, other factors – including comfort, noise, and alcohol consumption timing – may vary on real-life flights.

Nonetheless, the findings indicate that boozing and snoozing while flying carries some risks. This is particularly true for passengers who are more vulnerable due to preexisting health conditions or age.

The human body is already put under stress due to the high-altitude environment, and adding alcohol to the mix seems to intensify these effects. This could possibly lead to negative health outcomes or perhaps medical emergencies for certain airplane passengers.

“Cardiovascular symptoms have a prevalence of 7% of inflight medical emergencies, with cardiac arrest causing 58% of aircraft diversions,” the study’s authors wrote.

To read the study’s complete findings, which have since been published in Thorax, visit the link here.

Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.

Katharina Buczek graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Digital Arts. Specializing ... More about Katharina Buczek
Mentioned In This Article:

More About: