Alcohol and High Blood Pressure
Drinking alcohol increases blood pressure
It has been suggested that in the general population, that alcohol consumption may be as important as smoking for increases in blood pressure.
Small amounts of alcohol cause a short lived increase in blood pressure
Drinking any alcohol will generally cause a short temporary increase in blood pressure. If no further alcohol is consumed then blood pressure will return to the previous level after a short period of time. The amount of the increase in blood pressure, and the length of time for blood pressure to drop, varies with the individual.
Guidelines for moderate drinking suggest two drinks per day for men, and one drink per day for women. A drink is considered to be about 12oz of beer, or 5 oz of wine or 1 oz of liquor.
The type of alcoholic beverage does not influence the rise in blood pressure
Some types of alcoholic drinks have been shown to have health benefits. So this raises the question as to whether some drinks will have less impact on blood pressure.
The answer is that the effect on blood pressure is independent of the source of alcohol. For instance, drinking red wine, which is known to have health benefits, will raise blood pressure as much as a beer. Red wine does not seem to exert its health benefits by reducing blood pressure, but by other means such as antioxidants. It is the amount of alcohol that is important, not whether the drink is hard liquor, wine or beer.
It is the amount of alcohol consumed that is important
There is quite a strong dose relationship with number of alcoholic drinks consumed per day and the amount of the increase in blood pressure. The more alcohol consumed, the higher the blood pressure.
In chronic alcoholics blood pressure becomes increased all the time. The regular consumption of high levels of alcohol causes blood pressure to remain elevated continually.
Often when heavy consumption of alcohol is stopped, after a few days blood pressure will drop. This suggests that the direct effect of alcohol on blood pressure requires alcohol to be present in the body for increased blood pressure. However, sustained periods of high alcohol intake can indirectly affect blood pressure via damage caused to the cardiovascular system.
Drinking and smoking together may lead to even higher blood pressure
Recent research suggests that the effects of heavy drinking and smoking may be additive. This means that a heavy drinker who smokes is likely to have higher blood pressure than either a non-smoking heavy drinker or a smoking non-drinker.