For many people, a glass of wine or beer is part of flying. A new study shows that drinking alcohol before sleeping on an airplane poses health risks.28.07.2024 | 2:48 minA glass of wine, a beer or the famous Bloody Mary – for many people, this is simply part of flying. As a way to get in the mood for a vacation, to calm down or as a supposed sleep aid on a long-haul flight.The effects of drinking alcohol on an airplane have now been examined in a study by the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The result: Anyone who consumes alcoholic beverages on an airplane is exposed to particular health risks.
When flying, the oxygen content in the blood drops
Normally, the blood of healthy people has an oxygen content of over 95 percent. However, during a flight, passengers are exposed to a lower oxygen supply.
At cruising altitude, the external air pressure is significantly lower than on the ground. This pressure difference is not completely balanced out in the aircraft. The artificially generated pressure in the cabin is roughly equivalent to the air pressure on a mountain 2,438 meters above sea level. Over time, this leads to a lower oxygen content in the passengers’ blood.
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What are the effects of alcohol on an airplane?
The lower air pressure in the aircraft causes the oxygen level in the blood to drop to just 88 percent. If passengers also consume alcohol, the level drops even further. Just two glasses of wine or two cans of beer can cause it to drop to around 85 percent. And that can have dangerous consequences.
Why the heart rate increases
The danger becomes apparent when you fall asleep. Normally, your heart rate drops when you sleep. On an airplane, however, your heart tries to compensate for the low oxygen levels by beating faster. If you also consume alcohol, this effect is even more pronounced. An increased heart rate can have many consequences. Sabine Genth-Zotz, a cardiologist at the Marienhaus Klinikum Mainz, cites headaches, increased blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias and, in the worst case, even strokes as examples.
Of course, people who have previous illnesses or known heart disease are particularly at risk.
Prof. Dr. Sabine Genth-Zotz, Cardiologist, Marienhaus Hospital Mainz
Effective even in young and healthy people
According to the study, the unfavorable combination of alcohol, sleep and the lower pressure conditions in an airplane cabin is particularly pronounced during a long-haul flight. The reduced amount of oxygen in the blood and the increased heart rate could also be observed in young and healthy people over a longer period of time.
Trend towards alcohol-free
:Why young people abstain from alcohol
The alcohol rush is currently being replaced by the desire for more control and the sobriety that this requires. Why? And how sustainable is the trend?
Sleeping on the plane – relaxation techniques help
But what options are there to make it easier for passengers to fall asleep on an airplane? Genth-Zotz mainly mentions “boring alternatives”. Conscious breathing combined with calming techniques and quiet music can help. The cardiologist also advises not to “watch the exciting thriller on the in-flight television” right before going to sleep.
In addition, appropriate preparation is helpful. For Genth-Zotz, light food, comfortable clothing and a good book are good ways to ensure a relaxed flight. “But of course that depends on each individual,” says the cardiologist. Taking sleeping pills is explicitly not an alternative for Genth-Zotz.
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Effects of alcohol on airplanes: education needed
According to Sabine Genth-Zotz, more education is urgently needed. Many people are not aware of the particular risks of drinking alcohol on airplanes. The authors of the study even suggest restricting access to alcohol on airplanes. However, the cardiologist does not support this.
Here, every passenger is also a little bit responsible for themselves.
Prof. Dr. Sabine Genth-Zotz, Cardiologist, Marienhaus Hospital Mainz
Study on alcohol consumption on long-haul flights
In the Study 48 people between the ages of 18 and 40 took part in a study on the effects of moderate alcohol consumption on long-haul flights at the German Aerospace Center. They were randomly divided into two groups.
One group stayed in the sleep laboratory at normal air pressure, the other group in a chamber with an air pressure that corresponded to the cabin pressure in an airplane at cruising altitude.
Half of each group slept for four hours without drinking alcohol, and the other half of each group slept for four hours after drinking alcohol equivalent to two cans of beer or two glasses of wine.
The subjects’ sleep, blood oxygen levels and heart rate were continuously monitored. The evaluation then showed the described effects on the subjects’ blood oxygen levels and heart rate.
