Why should you not drink alcohol in flight? Research warns about the danger!
Risk Of Drinking While Traveling: Although alcohol is considered completely harmful to human health, the question arises of how harmful is drinking alcohol during air travel. People who are addicted to alcohol often like to book flights in which drinks are served. This facility is especially given to business class passengers. For some people, this is a way to celebrate travel, while some believe that it reduces jitters.
Claim about drinking alcohol in a flight
There have been debates many times before about serving liquor on flights, but now a new paper published by researchers from the German Aerospace Center and RWTH Aachen University shows that drinking alcohol in the sky can pose a major health risk, especially for older passengers and people with medical conditions.
Lack of oxygen
During air travel, artificial pressure is created in the aircraft cabin. This is not equivalent to the air pressure at sea level but at an altitude of about 2,500 meters. This is like being on top of a medium-sized mountain.
The higher the altitude, the lower the air pressure. The lower the air pressure, the lower the oxygen saturation in the blood. According to a study published in the journal Thorax, a healthy oxygen saturation is around 90%. When it drops below that, the muscles and organs stop receiving oxygen, as the body tries to supply oxygen to the brain.
This lack of oxygen can cause dizziness or nausea. Sensitive passengers may start breathing more deeply or faster than normal. An increased heart rate due to alcohol during sleep can also cause a lack of oxygen.
How was the study conducted?
For the study, 48 test subjects were divided into 2 groups. One was tested in a sleep laboratory with normal ambient pressure, and the other was tested in an altitude chamber featuring air pressure similar to that of an airplane cabin. In each group, some people drank alcohol before bedtime and others did not.
The study showed that the average heart rate of intoxicated test subjects in the simulated aircraft cabin increased by 88 beats per minute while they were asleep. Their oxygen saturation dropped by about 85%. Their average heart rate was higher than that of participants in the control group, and their oxygen saturation levels were lower.
This difference may not seem that serious at first glance. However, the negative effects were clearly visible even among very young and healthy test subjects. For elderly or sick people, a reduced oxygen supply and a significantly increased heart rate can be life-threatening.
Disclaimer: Dear reader, thank you for reading this news. This news has been written only to make you aware. We have taken the help of home remedies and general information in writing this. If you read anything related to your health anywhere, then definitely consult a doctor before adopting it.