Alcohol Increases Or Decreases Blood Pressure: The Effect Of Alcoholic Beverages On Blood Pressure

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

With high blood pressure, does alcohol increase or decrease it?

The content of the article:

The effect of alcohol on blood pressure
Alcohol with high blood pressure
1. Spirits
2. Wine
3. Beer
Compatibility of alcohol with drugs for pressure
Overview of Hypertension
Video

Does alcohol raise blood pressure or lower it? The question of how alcoholic beverages act on blood pressure (BP) worries many hypertensive patients, since information about this is contradictory. On the one hand, doctors prohibit the use of alcohol for hypertension, on the other hand, in popular scientific articles there is often an assertion that a glass or two of red wine or a glass of cognac helps to lower blood pressure. Where is the truth and what to do if, for example, a person is invited to a celebration? Let's try to figure it out.

Alcohol abuse leads to the development of hypertension

The effect of alcohol on blood pressure

The impact of alcohol on the human body depends on what type of alcohol was consumed, its amount, as well as a number of additional factors - for example, food eaten before drinking alcohol, the presence or absence of excess weight, etc.

In the course of the conducted studies, it was found that, despite the differences in a single dose, the systematic consumption of large quantities of alcohol in the long term leads to a sustained increase in blood pressure. Arterial hypertension is recorded 1.5-4 times more often in people who often drink alcohol than in people who rarely drink alcohol or do not drink at all; their systolic pressure is usually 8-10 mm Hg. Art. higher, diastolic - by 2-6 mm Hg. Art.

Abuse of alcoholic beverages (both periodic "drinking" or episodes of binge drinking, and alcoholism) is one of the reasons for the development of hypertension. This is due to the simultaneous negative impact on both the blood vessels and the kidneys and the nervous system, i.e., the three most important links in the regulation of blood pressure.

Alcohol with high blood pressure

Is it possible in rare cases to drink alcohol for hypertensive patients with not too high blood pressure? The answer depends on the amount and strength of alcohol, as well as on how much the patient's blood pressure is increased compared to his individual norm.

Spirits

Strong alcohol lowers blood pressure immediately after drinking, which is due to the effect of ethanol on the vascular wall. The blood vessels dilate and the pressure drops. However, the elimination of alcohol from the body is accompanied by stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system, therefore, some time after drinking alcohol, narrowing of the blood vessels occurs with an increase in blood pressure. This mechanism is responsible for the sharp rise in blood pressure during a hangover, which is especially dangerous for patients with hypertension. The rise in pressure during this period is so pronounced that it often becomes the cause of a hypertensive crisis. The higher the strength of the alcoholic drink, the more abrupt jump in blood pressure it causes.

Wine

Why is red wine sometimes recommended for people with a tendency to hypertension? The fact is that a small amount of red wine normalizes the tone of blood vessels and increases the elasticity of their walls, which can prevent sudden surges in blood pressure. For this reason, a little natural wine (the permissible single dose is not more than 140 ml) is usually allowed to be consumed in the early stages of arterial hypertension. Preference should be given to dry or semi-dry wine, which can be drunk no more than twice a week unless otherwise directed by a doctor. The abuse of wine with increased pressure, as well as the intake of stronger drinks, leads to sharp fluctuations in blood pressure up to a hypertensive crisis.

With a tendency to arterial hypertension, it is permissible to consume no more than 140 ml of natural wine at a time

Beer

In moderate quantities, beer with a tendency to hypertension is usually allowed to be consumed. The drink has a diuretic effect, which can both lower blood pressure slightly and prevent the formation of edema. Allowable single portion of beer is not more than 330 ml. With hypertension of the 2nd degree, it is allowed to consume the drink no more than once a week, and with the 3rd degree, it will have to be abandoned.

If hypertension is accompanied by renal failure, wine, beer and any other alcohol are strictly contraindicated.

Sometimes patients try to use alcoholic beverages to quickly bring down high blood pressure at home by substituting drugs for them. It is strongly discouraged to do this, since the effect of alcohol is not analogous to the therapeutic effect of antihypertensive drugs; it cannot replace them with itself, even if for a short time, and will provide a lower blood pressure.

Compatibility of alcohol with drugs for pressure

Can I drink pressure pills after alcohol? No, since close or simultaneous intake of alcohol and antihypertensive drugs leads to their ineffectiveness, as well as the frequent development of side effects. The compatibility of the medicine with alcoholic beverages can be checked - it is indicated in the instructions for use, but almost all antihypertensive drugs should not be used together with alcohol, since it is unsafe. In most cases, it is recommended to even give up drinking non-alcoholic beer.

Overview of Hypertension

Despite the fact that arterial hypertension (hypertension) is one of the most common pathologies in adult patients, many patients are unaware of its presence, continuing to lead a normal life, including actively drinking alcohol.

Everybody needs to measure their blood pressure periodically.

The main symptoms of high blood pressure include headache, high heart rate, blackheads and / or light spots in front of the eyes, irritability, lethargy, drowsiness, excessive sweating. They cannot be ignored, since essential hypertension is among the main causes of life-threatening conditions such as myocardial infarction or stroke. In addition, all people, without exception, are advised to periodically measure their blood pressure, even if there are no signs of trouble - this is necessary in order to know their individual rate, the so-called working pressure, from the value of which they are repelled, revealing pathology.