When you travel by plane, it is very common, depending on the company, to be offered food and drinks, especially on long-haul flights. A study carried out by researchers from the Institute of Aerospace Medicine of the German Aerospace Center reveals, in fact, a truth that is disturbing to say the least. The conjunction of alcohol consumption and sleeping at altitude would exert additional pressure on an organ that is vital to say the least: our heart.
The combined effects of alcohol and altitude
To carry out their research, the researchers divided a group of 40 volunteers in four distinct cohorts. Two of them slept under normal atmospheric pressure conditions, with or without alcohol consumption. While the other two groups were subjected to a simulation of the pressure prevailing in airplane cabins, again with or without ingestion of alcoholic substances.
To each of the participants concerned, an amount of alcohol equivalent to two cans of beer or two glasses of wine was administered. They were then subjected to a rest period limited to four hours, thus mimicking the conditions of disturbed sleep that one can experience when traveling by plane.
In a normal pressure environment, volunteers who consumed alcohol had an average blood oxygen saturation of 94.97% accompanied by a heart rate of 76.97 BPM. Conversely, sober people presented respective values of 95.88% and 63.74 BPM. However, when subjected to the pressure conditions of an airplane cabin, oxygen saturation levels dropped drastically to 85.32% for drinkers against 88.07% for abstainers, heart rates rising to 87.73 BPM and 72.90 BPM.
Serious implications for cardiovascular health
Consumption of alcohol in conditions of altitude therefore leads to a more pronounced decrease in blood oxygen saturation levels, coupled with a significant increase in heart rate. Indeed, the clinical standard of acceptable blood oxygen saturation for good health is set at 90%, while the values observed in flight prove to be lower than this threshold, therefore imposing an additional load on the cardiovascular system. A particularly alarming situation for people already prone to heart problems.
What’s more, this double phenomenon of low oxygenation coupled with an acceleration in heart rate results in a reduction in the time spent in deep and paradoxical sleep phases, yet essential for optimal recovery. This means that not only does alcohol affect your heart health, but it also disrupts the restorative quality of your sleep, thereby exacerbating the fatigue and stress resulting from flying.
A call for vigilance for passengers
Faced with this public health issue, researchers insist on the need to inform people. “ Public awareness on this subject should be increased through patient associations, public campaigns and written health advice from airlines. » they explain.
Certainly, the temptation to relax with a drink on the plane can be great, whether to celebrate the arrival of the holidays or decompress after a grueling business trip. However, caution remains in order, especially for vulnerable or elderly peoplewho could find themselves exposed to even more pronounced effects of this combination.
Nothing is more useless than to demonize any substance; educating yourself about your consumption is the best way to reduce the risks. Think about that the next time you order a whiskey or a beer while flying 12 km above the ground. In all cases, moderation remains the key word when drinking, but even more so on board a plane it seems.
- Researchers have linked alcohol consumption on a plane to greater strain on the cardiovascular system.
- Test subjects who consumed alcohol under pressurized cabin conditions had higher BPM and lower oxygen saturation than sober subjects.
- For researchers, this discovery should be an opportunity for airlines to strengthen their awareness campaigns on this topic.
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