In this metanalysis, the overall effect of alcohol reduction was a decrease of 3 mm Hg for systolic and 2 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure. However, stratification of analysis by the amount of baseline alcohol intake showed no effect on blood pressure for participants who consumed up to two drinks per day. Conversely, blood pressure reduction was significant and progressively higher in participants who had baseline alcohol intake of three, four to five, and six or more drinks per day. In this study, a meta-regression model indicated a decrease of 0.91 mm Hg in systolic and 0.75 mm Hg in diastolic blood pressure per one drink per day.
Conclusion: Balancing Alcohol Use for a Healthier Heart
I have marijuana addiction seen patients lower their blood pressure within weeks by reducing alcohol to just half of what they were drinking previously. If you have high blood pressure, do not drink alcohol or don’t drink much alcohol. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men. Take control of your health today by monitoring your drinking habits, staying within recommended limits, and prioritizing a lifestyle that supports heart health. Every small change can lead to significant long-term benefits for your cardiovascular system and overall well-being.
What Is High Blood Pressure?
Research shows that regular use of acetaminophen can raise blood pressure, as can nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen and naproxen. If you already have high blood pressure, NSAIDs can prevent several common meds such as ACE inhibitors and diuretics from doing their job. Combining alcohol with blood pressure medications introduces pharmacological risks. The most common danger is the amplification of hypotensive effects, leading to a sudden, excessive drop in blood pressure. Medications like alpha-blockers and vasodilators are particularly prone to this interaction, which can result in orthostatic hypotension—a sharp fall in blood pressure upon standing. This excessive drop can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting, increasing the risk of falls and accidents.
- On the other hand, even people who do not drink can develop high blood pressure for other reasons.
- A “drink” typically refers to 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits like vodka or whiskey.
- The magnitude and direction of the effects of alcohol on blood pressure depend on the time after alcohol consumption.
- Because the alcohol content in one standard drink varies among different countries (ranging from 8 g to 14 g), we chose the Canadian standard for an alcoholic beverage, which is 14 g of pure alcohol (CCSA).
- However, this positive impact isn’t enough to counteract the negative health effects of alcohol.
Is Alcohol Ever Beneficial to Your Health?
Rossinen 1997 measured blood pressure but selectively reported only SBP instead of reporting both SBP and DBP. Karatzi 2013Maufrais 2017 and Van De Borne 1997 measured blood pressure before and after treatment but did not report these measurements. We classified seven studies as having high risk of bias (Agewall 2000; Bau 2011; Dumont 2010; Fazio 2004; Karatzi 2013; Maufrais 2017; Van De Borne 1997). Agewall 2000 measured blood pressure upon arrival of participants and did not measure blood pressure after the intervention. The aim of Bau 2011 was to determine the effects of alcohol on heart rate variability, so SBP was not measured in this study. Dumont 2010 measured blood pressure during the study period, but study authors did not provide the before and after measurement of SBP.
- Over time, heavy drinking also makes many other serious health problems more likely, including heart disease, heart failure, liver disease, alcohol use disorder, and certain types of cancer.
- No member of the CME Institute staff reported any relevant personal financial relationships.
- This article will use the terms “female” and “male” when discussing people assigned female or male at birth to reflect language that appears in source materials.
Activities are planned using a process that links identified needs with desired results. Systolic pressure is the pressure within the arteries of the heart when the heart contracts, and diastolic pressure refers to the lowest pressure in the arteries when the heart is relaxing between contractions. The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of alcohol and hypertension longer, healthier lives. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century.
How To Lower Cortisol: Drinking Less Can Help
Including both of these doses or de‐selecting either one of these doses from Rosito 1999 from Analysis 2.1 and Analysis 2.2 (medium doses of alcohol) resulted in the same statistically significant conclusion. We classified six studies as having low risk of performance bias (Dai 2002; Narkiewicz 2000; Nishiwaki 2017; Potter 1986; Rosito 1999; Van De Borne 1997). In this study, all test drinks https://ecosoberhouse.com/ were poured into paper cups to achieve blinding of participants. We contacted the author of Rosito 1999 to request additional information regarding the method of blinding used. The study author explained the blinding method in detail in an email, so we classified this study as having low risk of bias. We used GRADEpro software to construct a ‘Summary of findings’ table to compare outcomes including change in SBP and DBP and HR (GRADEpro 2014).
Add a Comment