Consumption Of Alcohol On Flights Linked To Heart Damage: Research

The most popular mode of travel for people is by aeroplane. Amazing views can be seen out of the window seat when the aeroplane is at a high altitude. Often, people also like to drink alcohol while travelling by air. Many airlines around the world offer alcoholic drinks on flights and people enjoy them greatly. But this can pose a risk to people’s health. Recent research has revealed that drinking alcohol during a long air journey and then taking a nap can cause heart damage.

This study published in the medical journal Thorax found that drinking alcohol during air travel can be harmful to health. The air pressure in an aeroplane decreases and sleeping after drinking alcohol in such a condition reduces the amount of oxygen in people’s blood. This increases their heartbeat. Sleeping after drinking alcohol in hypobaric conditions puts a lot of pressure on the cardiac system, due to which patients with heart and pulmonary disease start facing a lot of problems. Not only patients but also affects healthy persons.

Scientists who conducted this research say that drinking too much alcohol during air travel can suddenly deteriorate health and lead to life-threatening conditions. Especially, the elderly and people already suffering from many diseases are at a higher risk of this happening. Therefore, such people should not drink alcohol during air travel, even by mistake. Researchers have suggested people drink alcohol within limits. In this study, researchers included 48 healthy people aged 18 to 40 years. They were divided into two groups. People in the first group drank alcohol sitting on the ground; the second group consumed alcohol during air travel.

The study found that for those who drank alcohol in the aeroplane before sleeping, their blood oxygen saturation dropped to less than 85 per cent and their heartbeat increased to an average of 88 beats per minute. Those who drank alcohol on the ground, their blood oxygen saturation increased to 95 per cent. Their heartbeat increased to 77 beats per minute. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, healthy people usually have oxygen saturation between 95 per cent and 100 per cent. Health experts say that oxygen saturation of less than 90 per cent is a cause for concern. It increases the risk of heart damage.