Scientists said blood oxygen levels approaching these ranges found in the study could compromise oxygen flow to vital organs during travel.

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International

Study: In-flight alcohol intake compromises oxygen levels, heart rate

Jun 4

Karah Rucker

Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Ian Kennedy (Lead Video Editor)

A recent study conducted in Germany has garnered significant attention due to its intriguing findings. Although limited in scope, with only 48 participants aged 18-40, the study sheds light on the impact of alcohol consumption during air travel.

Key findings:

Blood oxygen levels: Passengers who consumed two drinks and fell asleep in a pressurized cabin experienced a significant drop in blood oxygen levels, according to the study.

On average, their levels plummeted to 85%. In contrast, those at sea level maintained a healthier 95% blood oxygen level, well within normal parameters. Doctors say it is normal to see oxygen saturation drop to around 90% when flying, but losing that extra 5% as the study participants did could be concerning.
Heart rates: Participants who drank alcohol while in a pressurized environment had an average heart rate of nearly 88 beats per minute. Those who consumed alcohol at sea level averaged 77 beats per minute.

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Implications:

The study concludes that drinking on a plane before falling asleep can lead to decreased blood oxygen levels and increased heart rates. While young, healthy individuals are likely not at serious risk, passengers with underlying cardiorespiratory conditions should exercise caution.

Expert opinion:

Dr. Tara Narula, a medical contributor for NBC News, commented on the study during a segment on “Today”:

“The researchers say that maybe airlines should be restricting or pulling back on serving alcohol,” Narula said. “I’m not sure that is going to happen, but I do think passengers can certainly be aware and take the necessary precautions. I will say, people have been drinking on airplanes for a long time.”

Conclusion:

The German scientists behind the experiment expressed surprise at the findings. They said blood oxygen levels approaching these abnormal ranges found in the study could potentially compromise the delivery of oxygen to vital organs during air travel.

The study ended with this controversial “statement of significance.”

“Our findings strongly suggest that the inflight consumption of alcoholic beverages should be restricted,” the study said.

The study and Narula suggest passengers, especially those with pre-existing health conditions, should make informed decisions regarding alcohol consumption on planes.

Tags: Alcohol, Germany, Health, Travel

THERE’S A NEW STUDY GARNERING A LOT OF MEDIA ATTENTION –

BECAUSE IT’S CONCLUSION – IS A TALKER.

“DRINKING ON A PLANE MAY BE BAD FOR YOUR HEART.”

“DON’T DRINK BEFORE YOUR NAP ON A PLANE. IT COULD HURT YOU NOW AND LATER.”

“BOOZING AND SNOOZING ON AN AIRPLANE IS TERRIBLE FOR YOUR HEART.”

THE STUDY –

WAS CONDUCTED IN GERMANY.

IT WAS LIMITED –

WITH ONLY 48 PARTICIPANTS – 18 TO 40 YEARS OLD.

BUT THERE WERE CONSISTENT – AND INTERESTING – RESULTS –

WHEN COMPARING “HEART RATES” AND “BLOOD OXYGEN LEVELS” OF PASSENGERS WHO HAD TWO DRINKS AND FELL ASLEEP IN A PRESSURIZED CABIN AND THOSE NOT IN A LOW AIR PRESSURE ENVIRONMENT – DRINKING AND SLEEPING AT SEA LEVEL.

ON AVERAGE – THE PEOPLE WHO HAD DRINKS IN A PRESSURIZED SPACE HAD THEIR BLOOD OXYGEN LEVELS DROP TO 85 PERCENT.

THOSE AT SEA LEVEL – MAINTAINED A 95 PERCENT BLOOD OXYGEN LEVEL –

WHICH IS WITHIN NORMAL PARAMETERS.

DOCTORS SAY IT’S ALSO NORMAL TO SEE OXYGEN SATURATION DROP TO AROUND 90 PERCENT WHEN FLYING –

BUT LOSING THAT EXTRA 5 PERCENT PUTS SOMEONE AT A CONCERNING LEVEL –

ACCORDING TO THE STUDY AND SOME DOCTORS.

THERE WERE SIMILAR RESULTS MEASURING HEART RATES.

THOSE WHO DRANK AND WERE IN A PRESSURIZED ENVIRONMENT –

AVERAGED NEARLY 88 BEATS PER MINUTE.

THOSE WHO DRANK AT SEA LEVEL AVERAGED 77 BEATS PER MINUTE.

THE STUDY CONCLUDED DRINKING ON A PLANE BEFORE FALLING ASLEEP RESULTS IN BLOOD OXYGEN LEVELS DROPPING AND HEART RATES INCREASING.

THE STUDY SAYS WHILE YOUNG, HEALTHY PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY NOT AT A SERIOUS RISK, PEOPLE WITH UNDERLYING CARDIO-RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS SHOULD THINK BEFORE A DRINK ON A PLANE.

HERE’S WHAT ONE DOCTOR HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE NEW STUDY ON NBC’S TODAY SHOW.

TARA NARULA | NBC NEWS MEDICAL CONTRIBUTOR

“Well the researchers say maybe the airlines should be restricting alcohol, i’m not sure that’s going to happen, but i do think passengers could be aware if they are at higher risk, but i will say people have been drinking on airplanes a long time.”

THE GERMAN SCIENTISTS WHO CONDUCTED THE EXPERIMENT SAY THEY WERE “SURPRISED” BY THE RESULTS –

AND SAY BLOOD OXYGEN LEVELS APPROACHING THESE ABNORMAL LEVELS COULD COMPROMISE THE DELIVERY OF OXYGEN TO VITAL ORGANS.