2024-08-11 22:00:00
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Many of us like to have a glass of wine during a flight to toast the start of our trip or just to relax. However, drinking alcohol on a plane is not without risks, especially for passengers with respiratory conditions. This is from a The research is published in the scientific journal Thorax.
At high altitudes, atmospheric pressure and oxygen levels decrease, which can have an impact on our bodies. What effect does alcohol have on passengers’ pulse and sleep quality? To find out, German researchers gathered 48 participants aged 18 to 40 and divided them into two groups. The first slept in a laboratory with normal atmospheric conditions, and the second slept in a cabin at a simulated altitude of 2,438 meters. Half of each group drank alcohol before falling asleep.
See also article: Can we speed up the elimination of alcohol from the blood?
Effects of drinking on a plane
The researchers analyzed the study participants’ pulse rates and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2). What happened?
The combination of alcohol and simulated cabin conditions reduced oxygen saturation to an average of 85% and pulse rate to 88 beats per minute during sleep. Without alcohol, SpO2 drops to 88% and pulse drops to 73 beats per minute. Normally, a drinker’s pulse is 77 beats per minute and SpO2 drops to 95%. The abstinent person has an SpO2 of 96% and a pulse of 64 beats per minute.
Research findings also suggest that alcohol impairs sleep quality. Under the influence of alcohol and altitude, deep sleep lasted only 46.5 minutes, compared to 92 minutes under normal conditions.
We cannot ignore the fact that this study was conducted on young and healthy people. The risk may be higher in older adults or people with heart disease. The researchers recommend that health professionals, passengers and aviation personnel become more aware of the risks associated with drinking alcohol on board aircraft. They even recommend limiting alcohol consumption on airplanes, as cardiovascular symptoms account for 7% of medical emergencies on airplanes.
See also article: At what age should you stop drinking to avoid dementia?
Source:
https://thorax.bmj.com
https://www.nbcnews.com
https://www.health.com
Last updated: July 2024
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