Nutrition’s Lindsay Malone discusses health risks of alcohol consumption on flights

Why you should never sleep after drinking alcohol on a plane, according to health experts

Travel + LeisureLindsay Malone, registered dietitian and instructor in the Department of Nutrition at the School of Medicine, talked about a recent study that found there are increased health risks for all people who consume alcohol on flights—especially those who have cardiac and pulmonary conditions. “Drinking on airplanes is not usually a good idea. It sets the stage for poor sleep and cardiac events by lowering oxygen saturation and increasing heart rate,” she said. “And keep in mind that your health usually takes a hit with travel anyway—extended times sitting, more eating out, less time to exercise, poor sleep due to time changes, dehydration, and more.”