If you are someone who enjoys having a glass of wine or a cocktail after the bustle of boarding and squeezing your body into compact spaces, you might want to reconsider. A study recently revealed that there are many risks of consuming alcohol on an airplane - especially on longer haul flights.

After a series of lab experiments, it was found that when people fall asleep after consuming alcohol at lower air pressure, blood oxygen levels can drop alarmingly. In fact, it can also increase your heart rate.

Dr. Eva-Maria Elmenhorst, a researcher at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Cologne, Germany, who led the study, while speaking to media said that this study examined the effects of altitude and alcohol.

The lower blood oxygen levels and increased heart rates can cause strain on the cardiovascular system as the heart has to work even harder to compensate for the drop in oxygen. If you are young and healthy, this type of strain on your heart may just leave you feeling a bit tired. However, if you have a cardiac or respiratory condition, such as heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or sleep apnea, it could make you lightheaded and short of breath.

Also, alcohol is dehydrating - increasing your risk of developing a clot in your legs or lungs.

The German scientists, after their study, revealed that they expected that alcohol consumption at low air pressure would have an effect on people, but "we were surprised to see that the effect was so strong."

As a part of the study, a total of 12 people in each group slept for four hours after having consumed two cans of beer or two glasses of wine. On the other hand, 12 slept after consuming no alcohol. After a break of two days, the procedure was reversed. Those who had consumed alcohol before sleeping now slept with no alcohol and vice versa.

It was then observed that people who drank before falling asleep in the altitude chamber had their blood oxygen saturation drop to 85%. Their heart rates rose to an average of nearly 88 beats per minute. For those who consumed alcohol at sea level before falling asleep had their blood oxygen saturation drop to 95% and a heart rate rise to 77 beats per minute.

So what do you do on your next flight? One drink is probably okay. However, it is important to note how you feel after that. If you wake up with a headache, strictly avoid it.

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