Should You Drink Alcohol If You Have High Blood Pressure?

Individuals who do not experience withdrawal symptoms will likely see the positive effects of giving up alcohol shortly after doing so. Alcohol increases the risk of several other short- and long-term health issues. “If you have high blood pressure, it’s probably in your best interest to drink minimally,” Morledge said. Alcohol also stimulates the release of adrenaline and puts the body in a fight-or-flight mode, leading to elevated blood pressure. Alcohol consumption is categorized into different levels based on the amount consumed.

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“The best ways to maintain good health and lower blood pressure is by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and maintaining a good diet that is low in salt and predominantly made up of unprocessed foods,” Amin said. “This complex interplay leads to elevated blood pressure and subsequent hypertension,” Ramnauth said. However, “since everyone has different physiology, many people may react to the same amount of alcohol in diverse ways,” he added. Kimberly Goad is a New York-based journalist who has covered health for some of the nation’s top consumer publications. Her work has appeared in Women’s Health, Men’s Health and Reader’s Digest.Dr.

Several factors are to blame, one being your body’s network of blood vessels, which changes with age. Thus alcohol decreases blood pressure initially (up to 12 hours after ingestion) and increases blood pressure after that. Alcohol consistently increases heart rate at all times within 24 hours of consumption. The newest evidence suggests benefits for heart health of drinking alcohol are less and apply to a smaller group ofthe population than previously thought.

The AHA states even people who drink one alcoholic beverage per day showed a link to higher blood pressure compared to non-drinkers. A slower metabolism also plays a role, as do medications — prescription, over-the-counter, even herbal remedies — that are common among older people. “As you grow older, health problems or prescribed medicines may require that you drink less alcohol or avoid it completely,” the Institute says. Studies have shown that a good percentage of people who drink alcohol also smoke, which can raise blood pressure as well. “Those who drink heavily are three times Alcohol Poisoning Symptoms & Treatment as likely to be hypertensive” as those who abstain. It may affect the level of the medicine in the body or cause more side effects.

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For example, alcohol can affect calcium levels, cortisol levels, and baroreceptor sensitivity, all of which can lead to increases in blood pressure. This combination of higher fluid levels in the body and smaller blood vessels increases blood pressure. If you already have high blood pressure, your doctor may have advised you to drink alcohol in moderation and cut back on your overall alcohol intake.

Health benefits of avoiding alcohol

And while enjoying celebratory spirits in moderation is alright for most people, it’s important to be aware you can fall victim to holiday heart syndrome if you overdo it. This is when overeating and overindulging in alcohol lead to an irregular heartbeat. Completely refraining from consuming alcohol lowers the risk of some of the health risks listed above.

Because alcohol and cholesterol medicine both are processed through your liver, they are, in a sense, competing for clearance. So, it’s important to think about your overall health and talk to a healthcare provider about your personal risk factors. Studies have shown that excessive alcohol consumption can worsen blood pressure levels. If you have high blood pressure, it’s best to reduce your alcohol intake. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines light drinking as three drinks or fewer per week and moderate drinking as no more than one drink per day for women and up to two per day for men. Alcohol consumption above those levels is considered heavy drinking.

Does Alcohol Raise Blood Pressure?

Some older studies suggested that red wine might be good for heart health. But doctors now believe that alcohol doesn’t serve up any heart benefits. “Alcohol is certainly not the sole driver of increases in blood pressure; however, our findings confirm it contributes in a meaningful way. Limiting alcohol intake is advised, and avoiding it is even better,” Vinceti said. Consuming alcohol can increase the risk of high blood pressure and other metabolic conditions in several ways.

1. Women should be especially cautious about alcohol, Goldberg says, as they may be more likely than men to develop health problems, particularly among young or middle-aged women who have eight or more drinks a week.
2. T​here was a particular risk for bias in the studies that met the eligibility criteria, and there is still the potential risk for residual confounding.
3. As with most forms of disease, a healthy lifestyle—including a proper diet, exercise, minimal stress, and low or moderate levels of alcohol consumption or abstinence—can work to promote healing.
4. Many factors can increase someone’s risk for high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.

There are also a number of opportunities to expand on the research, including understanding more about how alcohol intake influences blood pressure among women. And sure, we’ve all had a night here or there where we’ve had one too many and we know it. But it’s important to make sure those nights of overindulgence are the exception and not the rule. If you’re not sure, make a note to tune into how much you’re having over the course of the next month or so.