However, a recent study suggests that travelers might want to reevaluate this practice.
German researchers have discovered that the combination of alcohol consumed during flight and cabin pressure at cruise altitude may strain the hearts of passengers who are asleep.
They found that even in young, healthy adults, blood oxygen levels drop and heart rates rise when people fall asleep after consuming alcohol at the low air pressures usually seen during flights.
“We were taken aback by how powerful the effect was,” co-author Dr. Eva-Maria Elmenhorst of the study said to News,
Please refrain from consuming alcohol while flying.”
The researchers noted that because cabin pressure is lower at cruising altitude and is enhanced during sleep, passengers with heart problems are more likely to experience a worsening of their symptoms, writing about their findings in the journal Thorax.
They added alcohol, which is frequently ingested on board, had comparable effects.
“Drinking alcohol while flying is an underappreciated health risk that is easily preventable,” German experts at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine stated.
“It may be beneficial to consider altering regulations to restrict the access to alcoholic beverages on board.”
