In flight: Sobering advice

Passengers who drink alcohol and coffee in excess when flying may have to settle for something a little less strong, if they want to avoid illnesses.

Dr Michael Sand, lead researcher and doctor at the Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany, said: “Alcohol and coffee dehydrate passengers who could suffer from syncope – a sudden lowering of blood pressure and unconsciousness.''

In an e-mail to XPRESS, he suggested that “most of the airlines should provide enough non-alcoholic drinks during flights so that passengers do not suffer from syncope bouts'', while also advising passengers to carry enough fluids when travelling long distance, since the dry air in the aircraft cabin could lead to breathing problems among passengers.

According to Dr Sand, passengers flying with low-cost carriers in Europe are more prone to this problem since “they [the low-cost carriers] are very stingy when it comes to offering free drinks [water] on flights. He said the “no-chills no-frills'' concept does more harm than good to passengers' health as many don't want to spare cash to buy water – even when they are in need of it – when flying.

Compounding the problem is that, after the 9/11 terror attacks on the US, the global airline industry issued a blanket ban on carrying of liquids into aircraft, including water. Security checks

“The problem is that passengers are not allowed to carry water bottles beyond security checkpoints.

“And since price of water after the security checks are high, many don't buy it and hence don't consume it,'' said Dr Sand.

In a report published in the online journal Critical Care, an analysis of 10,189 medical flight reports revealed syncope (53.5 per cent) as the most frequently diagnosed medical condition on board, followed by gastrointestinal disorders (8.9 per cent), fear of flying (4.3 per cent) and generalised pain (4.1 per cent).

The report also stated that the most frequent cause behind flight diversions involves myocardial infarction – damage to a muscular substance of the heart – (22.7 per cent); apoplexy (11.3 per cent) and epileptic seizures (9.4 per cent). The study was conducted after 32 airlines were asked to submit a report on the in-flight medical emergencies. Flying fear

Other factors contributing to medical emergencies on board include an increase in the average age of passengers, flight-stress and changes in the cabin environment (temperature, humidity or air pressure), stress of increased security and less seat space and increasing delays.

“Myocardial infarction in a passenger does make an airline change course of its flight, but the practical solution to it would be if a chronically ill patient consults his doctor before boarding a long-distance flight,'' said Dr Sand.