Lifestyle Blogger

Thursday, August 22

Top Health Risks of Drinking Alcohol on a Plane: Why You Should Avoid It

Why you should avoid drinking alcohol in a flight

Cocktails at cruising altitude come with potential serious health risks.

When we have had a long day before the flight, we tend to want to relax during the flight. Some relax by drinking alcohol. While it might sound like a fun way to celebrate the start of a trip, there’s something important to consider: drinking alcohol on a plane could actually be risky. If you’re planning to catch some sleep on a long-haul flight, you might want to think twice about ordering that champagne.

What happens to your body when you are in the air?

Once you’re cruising at high altitude, the lower atmospheric pressure means your body gets less oxygen. Normally, your blood oxygen levels hover around 96% to 100%, but up in the sky, they can drop to about 90% or even lower.

To adjust, your body kicks into high gear: you start breathing faster to get more oxygen, and your heart pumps quicker to circulate blood throughout your system. This works for most people, but heart conditions can make it difficult.

Things get even more complicated when you throw alcohol into the mix. According to Dr. Matthew Mosquera, a medical expert from McLean Hospital, alcohol can mess with how your red blood cells pick up oxygen. It disrupts hemoglobin, the molecule responsible for carrying oxygen, making it harder for your body to stay oxygenated.

So, if you've got your boarding pass and a drink order in mind, here are some things you might want to think about. There are a few factors that can make your blood oxygen levels drop even more on a plane:

Aging: As we get older, our bodies become less efficient at adjusting to changes in oxygen levels.

Sleeping: Our breathing naturally slows down while we sleep, and this can be even more pronounced on a plane.

Underlying conditions: If you have lung disease, sleep apnea (where you briefly stop breathing while you sleep), or heart issues, less oxygen will reach your lungs.

So, what's the big deal? When you’re flying, the reduced oxygen in the cabin combined with other factors makes it harder for your body to stay balanced. A study published on June 3, 2024, in Thorax highlights this issue. Researchers looked into how alcohol and airplane cabin pressure affect blood oxygen levels while you sleep. They found that sleeping under typical airplane cabin pressure has already lowered your blood oxygen and increased your heart rate. Adding alcohol to the mix made things worse, with even lower oxygen levels and higher heart rates.

Dr. Matthew Mosquera warns that "drinking and sleeping on a plane puts a big strain on your body, especially your cardiovascular system," and it's even riskier if you have heart or lung disease. This combination could increase your chances of a heart attack or stroke. But that’s not all. Drinking alcohol on a flight can also:

- Increase your risk of falling

- Lead to dehydration, which strains your cardiovascular system

- Impair your judgment and focus, which isn’t ideal when it’s time to disembark

- Help you fall asleep but reduce the quality of your sleep

So, what should you do?

If you’re healthy and enjoy an occasional drink, moderate alcohol consumption might be okay. However, Dr. Mosquera suggests you:

- Be cautious with medications: Alcohol can enhance the drowsiness caused by sleep aids or other drugs.

- Stay hydrated: Drink extra water to counteract alcohol’s dehydrating effects.

- Watch your step: Take your time getting up from your seat to avoid falls.

- Skip the booze if you have health issues: If you have heart or lung conditions, sleep apnea, or a history of strokes, it’s best to avoid alcohol, especially if you’re planning to sleep on the flight.

Travel safe and consider your health before you take that next sip up in the skies!

Photo by serrnovik
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45 comments

  1. 🍓☽。・:*:・🍓☽。・:*:・🍓☽。・:*:・

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  2. Useful info. I wasn't aware of this effect of alcohol at the heights.

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    1. It makes me happy that you are now aware.

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  3. No lo sabía, gracias por el consejo. Te mando un beso.

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    1. Of course, J.P. We all learn new things every day. I'm glad you now know.

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  4. I think this is very useful information. I don't drink alcohol because alcohol is bad for your health. I think it was very useful information that you explained the harm of drinking on the plane. Thank you. ✔🙂💖

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  5. bonjour très utile cet article, voila la fin de semaine hier il a fait une belle journée chaude mais ce matin il ne fait que 15 degrés sa sent l'automne, je te souhaite une belle journée de Vendredi ,bon weekend

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  6. That's very interesting, Melody! I don't drink alcohol and haven't done for almost 30 years now. xxx

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    1. Drinking is not the best reward. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. I must to confesso that I don't drink alcol often, One glass of White wine during a social dinner, but I prefer water and other alcool free drinks. However your post is really interesting i

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    1. Water is always a better choice. Thank you for sharing.

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  8. These are such good tips, totally agree drinking water is always the best! Hope you have an amazing rest of the summer beauty!

    xoxo, MidoriLinea

    https://www.midorilinea.com/blogs/midori-linea/panda-village-koala-world

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    1. I appreciate your comment. I must admit, summer in Scotland is often rainy and gloomy, so I would love to visit a sunny city.

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  9. Um importante post com informações que devemos saber bjs.

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    1. Feel free to read my blog: felixanoopthekkekara.blogspot.com.
      Thank you.

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  10. Gracias por tu visita a mi blog, Melody...Tus recomendaciones son muy interesantes y nos hacen bien a todos. Tomaremos nota de ello, porque son importantes para la salud.
    Mi abrazo entrañable, compañera de letras.

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  11. Hello,

    Thank you for this post which I will certainly share with some friends. I don't drink alcohol or fly, so I'm safe eheheh! But it's important to know how our body behaves when we drink alcohol during a plane journey, to avoid health problems! great post Melody!

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    1. Marisa, I'm so glad you're sharing this with your friends. It shows that you care about them. They should be so proud to have you in their lives.

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  12. Hello,
    As a 16-year-old I was not aware of the fact that drinking alcohol in the plane can be so dangerous. Thank you for providing this kind of information.
    hey Melody Jacob if you are interested in historical and mystical facts, don't feel shy to explore my blogs. felixanoopthekkekara.blogspot.com.

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  13. You're right, I won't drink alcohol on the plane. it's better to stay hydrated and feel good during the flight.

    http://www.itsjulieann.com

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  14. I don't drink alcohol at all. However, the post is interesting.

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  15. Hola, muy interesante y bonito blog :)

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  16. A complete analysis.

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  17. Ótimo estudo e considerações...O álcol só com moderação! abraços, chica e lindo fim de semana!

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  18. Muy interesante y conviene releerlo de vez en cuando para no olvidar algunas cosas. Las compañías aéreas también deberían hacer algo y poner ciertos avisos en zonas visibles.
    Saludos !

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  19. ...I don't drink alcohol when I'm on the ground either!

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  20. Hi Melody!
    Your post is very important!!! I myself read the post with great attention!
    Alcohol is realistically speaking very dangerous and unhealthy! Unfortunately (I say this with great shame!), in Poland many people abuse alcohol. Often drunk people also drive cars! Unfortunately, among the alcohol-drinking drivers are celebrities too. These people aren't stigmatized, other popular people justify them.
    Unfortunately, alcohol is a very big problem in my country.
    Melody, I salute you and I wish you a happy weekend!!!

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  21. This is such an informative post! I do not like to drink on airplanes (I have anxiety flying and don't need anything that could add to that) but it is good to better understand some of the other issues it can cause. Thank you!

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  22. I don't drink alcohol these days and haven't for years.

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  23. I am glad I do not drink alcohol on the planes, I prefer water. Take care, have a happy weekend.

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  24. Interesting topic here. Good to know. Thank you!
    You choose a lovely image on top.
    Have a fine weekend! All the best!❤️😘

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  25. Habra que tomar nota de lo que nos indicas.
    Un saludo, amiga

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  26. Hi. I lked of yours sugestions to fly. Very important. Kisses. Good!

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  27. I think you have an interesting blog that I will want to visit often. I've been on blogger since 2009, but had to start my new blog due to issues with the comments section on my old one, all comments disappeared and no new comments could be entered. I'm your latest follower and I hope you will become a follower of my new blog, since I need to build it up.

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  28. I don't drink alcohol at all.

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  29. I so rarely fly... My last flight was so short I did without their snack and drink offerings entirely.

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  30. I rarely fly and I rarely drink so not an issue for me

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  31. I only had alcohol on a flight once, many years ago, it gave me a headache and dehydration. Now I just drink water or orange juice.

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  32. I don't drink alcohol because I have the Chron disease.

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  33. Thank you, Melody. As a regular traveller I know the majority of this. We'd better avoid drinking alltogether, I mean regular and intensive drinking. But on holiday in Italy for instance, you're likely to feel outcast without a glass of wine at dinner. Drop by to have a look at my new post, Melody. Enjoy your week.

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  34. I usually never purchase a drink when I fly, but have to admit that the one time I went first class and had the complimentary champagne, i was smitten! (And thanks for stopping by earlier this week with such a lovely comment!)

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  35. How very interesting! Thank you so much for a fascinating article. As I get older I find I don't drink a lot of alcohol. A once-a-year Margarita on my birthday and that's about it, lol! Wishing you a great week ahead.

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Thank you for sharing your opinion.

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Please remember to bring it to the Lord in prayer. Melody Jacob
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