Should You Drink Alcohol If You Have High Blood Pressure?

Research shows that individuals who reduce their alcohol intake to recommended levels (one drink a day for women and two for men) often see a reduction in both their systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings. Cutting back on alcohol also reduces the risk of related health issues, such as stroke, heart attack, and heart failure. Yes, alcohol can raise blood pressure, especially when consumed in excess. Drinking too much alcohol—such as binge drinking (five or more drinks for men or four or more drinks for women in one sitting)—causes a temporary spike in blood pressure. Over time, heavy alcohol use can lead to sustained high blood pressure (hypertension).

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Even moderate alcohol consumption can cause short-term increases in blood pressure readings. Several factors can increase the risk of developing high blood pressure, including genetics, lifestyle choices like diet and exercise, and medical conditions such as kidney disease and sleep apnea. To lower blood pressure, consider reducing sodium intake, increasing physical activity, losing weight, managing stress, and quitting smoking. These lifestyle changes can significantly improve your blood pressure levels and overall heart health. On the other hand, bp alcohol heavy drinkers—those who consume more than three drinks per day—are at a much higher risk of developing hypertension. The more alcohol you consume, the greater the strain on your cardiovascular system.

Does alcohol increase blood pressure?

If you currently have high blood pressure, a doctor may recommend reducing your alcohol intake or avoiding alcohol altogether. You should talk with a doctor about alcohol consumption, especially if you have other health conditions, such as diabetes. Heavy alcohol users who cut back to average drinking can lower their top number in a blood pressure reading by about 5.5 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and their bottom number by about 4 mm Hg. Try these helpful exercises to possibly lower your blood pressure levels. Physical activity and exercise should be part of your daily or weekly routine.

• And the alcoholic beverage industry is a major economic force, responsible for more than $250 billion in sales annually in the US.
• “Today, the conversation is shifting, thanks to mounting evidence showing alcohol’s direct link to cancer, liver disease and even mental health problems.
• For decades, alcohol was sold as a social aid, a stress reliever and even a heart-health enhancer, often praised in the Mediterranean diet for its supposed benefits when enjoyed as a daily glass of wine.
• If you do choose to drink, it is best to spread your drinks throughout the week.
• We are also moderately certain that high‐dose alcohol decreased blood pressure within six hours, and the effect lasted up to 12 hours.

Alcohol and Blood Pressure: Understanding the Connection, Managing Risks, and Fostering Health

• Whether you’re pouring a round of drinks, savoring a glass of wine or enjoying a brew with close companions, drinking alcohol is so intertwined with our social and cultural rituals that it often goes unquestioned.
• Drinking too much alcohol can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, leading to dizziness, fainting, and even shock.
• Drinking too much alcohol—such as binge drinking (five or more drinks for men or four or more drinks for women in one sitting)—causes a temporary spike in blood pressure.
• When your arteries tighten, your heart has to work harder to pump blood through them.

Although these trials included adults from 18 to 96 years of age with various health conditions, most study participants were young healthy males. It’s worth noting that current guidelines advise against drinking alcohol as a way to improve health. Current alcoholic beverage labels in the US warn of the risks of driving under the influence of alcohol, adverse effects on general health, and risks for a developing fetus — but there’s no mention of cancer. “It has calories, and calories can cause weight gain and obesity, which will lead to high blood pressure,” Dr. Mintz says. When alcohol affects blood pressure alcohol, you may notice changes in your mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) readings, especially in the top number (systolic pressure). Alcohol disrupts the normal function of blood vessels, making them less elastic and impairing blood flow, which can increase blood pressure alcohol.

FAQs You May Have On Blood Pressure and Heart Health

No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Heavy drinking can also cause problems well beyond the health of the drinker — it can damage important relationships. It’s all too common that problem drinking disrupts bonds with a spouse, family members, friends, coworkers, or employers. Whether you choose wine, beer, or spirits, the quantity of alcohol consumed matters more than the type. Blood Pressure Categories Infographic describing the corresponding blood pressure readings between normal and hypertensive crisis.

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Conversely, if hypertensive drinkers treated with calcium channel blockers have high daytime BP, their BP may be even higher at night. Therefore, 24-hour ABPM is beneficial for diagnostic evaluation and management. Further evidence is needed to elucidate how the management of non-dipping patterns affects clinical outcomes. For alcohol drinkers, even those with well-controlled clinic BP and 24-hour ambulatory BP, it is important to be aware that nighttime hypertension may persist.

• As more people embrace initiatives like Dry January and Sober October, taking a break from alcohol has now become more socially acceptable than ever before.
• If you drink large amounts of alcohol daily, consider talking with a healthcare professional about how to taper off your alcohol intake to prevent symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
• “People often drink to cope with anxiety or depression, but alcohol actually disrupts our brain chemistry, making these conditions worse long-term,” says White.
• This increase in heart rate can also lead to “holiday heart syndrome,” Dr. Mintz says.

If you already have high blood pressure, NSAIDs can prevent several common meds such as ACE inhibitors and diuretics from doing their job. 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.

Mounting evidence links alcohol with cancer. Defining a “safe” amount of drinking is tricky — and controversial.

White shares that newer research shows it also disrupts our slow-wave sleep, which is amphetamine addiction treatment crucial for physical restoration and memory consolidation. Andrews points out that alcohol takes a toll on the immune system, leaving the body more susceptible to infections and slower healing. “Chronic drinking lowers the production of white blood cells, your body’s natural defense system, increasing the risk of illnesses like pneumonia, tuberculosis and even COVID-19 complications,” she emphasizes. Of course, no one needs to wait for new guidelines or warning labels to curb their drinking.

Having more than three drinks in one sitting raises blood pressure for a short time. Binge drinking over and over can cause long-term rises in blood pressure. Possible diurnal blood pressure variation change due to alcohol consumption. • Normally, blood pressure declines by around 10–20% at night compared to daytime (nocturnal decline, orange line). • In the acute phase of alcohol consumption, blood pressure declines from the original blue line due to vasodilation caused by alcohol and then increases (orange arrow, and brown line). • However, with long-term alcohol consumption, there is a sustained rise in blood pressure (red arrow), and eventually, blood pressure at night is also higher than that in non-drinkers (red line).

• Therefore, 24-hour ABPM is beneficial for diagnostic evaluation and management.
• For those struggling with alcohol use disorder (AUD), cutting back or quitting altogether can feel like an insurmountable challenge.
• For low doses of alcohol, we found that one glass of alcohol had little to no effect on blood pressure and increased heart rate within six hours of drinking.
• But what do you do when your friends start pouring the pressure as freely as the drinks?
• Even if you only drink on special occasions or weekend outings, you may find it helpful to explore life without alcohol entirely.
• This increased pressure can strain the heart and blood vessels, leading to serious health issues such as heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.

While past research has suggested a potential benefit of regularly consuming a small amount of alcohol each day, newer research has called those findings into question and noted that more studies are still needed. Your blood pressure is elevated if it is 120 to 129 systolic and 80 to 89 diastolic. Devineé Lingo is a registered dietitian nutritionist who is on a mission to cultivate health and wholeness in people seeking restoration and renewal.