There are many health issues drinking alcohol can cause. According to a research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), they estimate that about 88,000 people die due to too much alcohol, ranging from a liver problem, car accidents, and many others. Long-Term heavy drinking unusually consistent binge drinking, or alcohol use disorder (AUD), can lead to severe damage to the cardiovascular system like high blood pressure. According to a 2013 study about 16%, high blood pressure in the United States is linked to excessive alcohol consumption.
However, heavy drinkers who later cut back on their habit can lower their systolic blood pressure to up to 2 to 4 millimeters of mercury and their diastolic blood pressure by 1 to 2 mm Hg. So, it is advisable for high blood pressure who drink heavily to slowly reduce how much they drink as this can help them avoid risk developing severe high blood pressure.
So, for high blood pressure patient who drinks their moderate drinking is generally considered to be:
- One drink a day for women of any age
- Two drinks a day for men younger than age 65
- One drink a day for men age 65 and older
How Does Alcohol Make Hypertension Worse?
Alcohol is not too good for high blood patients as it can elevate their blood pressure, and the effect will only wear off once you stop drinking and your liver has done the job of processing it out of your body. Experiencing high blood pressure as a side effect can become a chronic problem when you consume too much alcohol. This is why it is advisable for high blood pressure to reduce their alcohol intake as this can help reduce their systolic blood pressure.
Alcohol is associated with vasodilation when is consumed, and the fact that alcohol contains high quantity of calories and sugar that cab increases the risk of high blood pressure and adding to body fat is enough reasons to quit or limit intake. One study found that men with high blood pressure who occasionally drink more than six drinks double their risk of heart attack or stroke. Another research shows that people who consume alcohol are less likely to eat and when they do they eat food that is unhealthy. This can increase the risk of developing high blood pressure. Also, people who abuse alcohol are less likely to seek medical treatment when they start to see symptoms.
Keep in mind that alcohol contains calories and may contribute to unwanted weight gain and it can interfere with how effective blood pressure medications work.
