![]() Generally, blood oxygen saturation beneath 90% is not sustainable in the long term. This study concluded that this hypoxia in conjunction with the dehydration, immobility and low humidity associated with airplane travel could contribute to morbidity during and after airplane travel. One study found a passenger had a blood oxygen saturation of 94% at ground level and 85% at altitude. Local hypoxia causes vasodilation (decrease in blood pressure) and increased capillary permeability, as well as increased ventilatory effort and heart rate. Typically, in-cabin air pressure is equivalent to that seen at 5000 to 8000 ft. Travelling to high altitudes such as mountains or ski resorts pose a high risk of hypoxemia (oxygen deprivation) due to the decrease in oxygen pressure compared to sea-level. Image Credit: Volkova Natalia / Shutterstock Airplane Travel and Blood Oxygen Saturation ![]()
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