Going on holiday often starts with a celebratory drink on the plane. However, a recent study suggests that this common practice could be detrimental to your heart health.

German scientists from the Institute of Aerospace Medicine found that the combination of in-flight alcohol consumption and cabin pressure may strain passengers' hearts, particularly when they sleep. The study revealed that drinking alcohol at cruising altitude can cause blood oxygen levels to drop and heart rates to increase, even in young and healthy individuals.

"We were surprised to see that the effect was so strong," study co-author Dr Eva-Maria Elmenhorst told Sky's US partner network NBC News. "Please don't drink alcohol while being on an airplane."




The research, published in the journal Thorax, highlighted that passengers with pre-existing heart conditions are at a higher risk due to the decreased cabin pressure, which is exacerbated during sleep. The study indicates that alcohol, often consumed on board, poses an underestimated health risk that could be easily avoided.

"The on board consumption of alcohol is an underestimated health risk that could be easily avoided," academics from the Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Germany said. "It may be beneficial to consider altering regulations to restrict the access to alcoholic beverages on board."

Researchers tested the impact of alcohol and sleep in a low-pressure environment, assessing 48 people aged between 18 and 40 over two nights in different settings�a sleep laboratory and an altitude chamber. Participants consumed alcohol before one of the nights.

The findings showed that even young, healthy individuals experienced significant drops in blood oxygen levels and increased heart rates under hypobaric conditions, challenging the cardiovascular system and reducing sleep quality. Dr Elmenhorst noted, "The decreased oxygen saturation together with the increase in heart rate could exacerbate pre-existing medical conditions."

Researchers concluded that combining alcohol intake with sleeping under low-pressure conditions places considerable strain on the cardiac system, potentially exacerbating symptoms in those with heart or pulmonary diseases.

"The oxygen saturation dropped to quite low levels during sleep," said Dr Elmenhorst. "This is why I would recommend to avoid drinking alcohol even when someone is healthy."

Credit: CNN