It appears that drinking alcohol before bed during airplane flights poses a major risk to your health, according to a recent study. German researchers suggest avoiding alcohol during flights due to increased health risks.
The combination of alcohol consumption, sleep and low oxygen concentration at high altitudes reduces blood oxygen saturation, increases heart rate and impairs sleep quality. The effects were identified in young and healthy study participants, while the risks worsen for the elderly and those with real health problems.
Researchers from the "German Aerospace Center's Institute of Aerospace Medicine" and "Aachen University" said at the same time that if you have made it a habit to drink a glass before taking a nap during the hours of air travel, this directly affects the quality of your sleep. Study co-author Eva-Maria Elmenhorst told NBC News that the team was "surprised to see that the effect was so strong" and recommended the absolute avoidance of alcohol during the flight.
Under the increased effect of alcohol consumption, laboratory tests showed that the participants' blood oxygen saturation decreased significantly, their heart rate increased, and deep sleep became almost impossible.
Even "young, healthy participants" suffered from "clinically significant" satiety and heart rate problems during sleep, the same study found.
"Higher doses of alcohol can amplify these effects, escalating the risk of health complications and in-flight medical emergencies, especially among older individuals and those with medical problems," she concludes.
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