It is known that high altitude environments expose us to lower atmospheric pressure, which can lower blood oxygen saturation levels, especially when we sleep. Blood oxygen saturation was measured with a pulse oximeter: a “good” level is above 95%, a level below 90% is considered low and alarming.
Advertisement
The results of the study showed that people sleeping at sea level had normal blood oxygen levels, although their heart rates increased slightly during the night when they consumed alcohol.
Those who slept in a high-altitude room had a blood oxygen level of 88%, and after drinking alcohol it dropped to 85%. His heart rate also increased (to compensate for low saturation, the heart has to “work” harder).
Of course, the study sample was small and the volunteers slept in the supine position (usually only possible on flights for first class passengers), so it’s unclear if the same results would be obtained for those sleeping sitting up.
What’s surprising is that the study was conducted on healthy people, so alcohol on a flight may be especially dangerous for people with poor cardiovascular health or the elderly. Also, some people who don’t drink regularly may drink during a flight so they don’t dread the flight.
