The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines light drinking as three drinks or fewer per week and moderate drinking as no more than one drink per day for women and up to two per day for men. 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. A 2021 review found that in women, drinking even a moderate amount of alcohol can increase the risk of hypertension. Methodological differences between studies might have affected measurement of the reported outcomes. Recent research suggests that automated ambulatory blood pressure monitors are more reliable than manual sphygmomanometers, particularly because automated monitors reduce white coat anxiety (Mirdamadi 2017). Mixing of various measurement techniques (manual, semi‐automated, and fully automated) in the meta‐analysis might have led to some of the heterogeneity.
- Excessive alcohol consumption can increase the risk of several metabolic conditions, including high blood pressure.
- Sugary or caffeinated mixers, for example, can further elevate blood pressure, compounding the effects of the alcohol itself.
- Metabolism and ClearanceMost alcohol is processed by the liver, where enzymes (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase) break it down into acetaldehyde and then acetate.
Hering 2011 published data only
- McFadden 2005 included both randomised and non‐randomised studies with a minimum of 24 hours of blood pressure observation after alcohol consumption.
- Among the various lifestyle factors contributing to hypertension, alcohol consumption plays a significant—and often misunderstood—role.
- Studies have shown that heavy alcohol users who reduce their intake to moderate levels can experience a reduction in blood pressure readings.
This long-term effect is the opposite of the common misconception that alcohol lowers blood pressure. Up to 16% of individuals diagnosed with high blood pressure may have developed the condition due to heavy drinking. The type of alcohol you drink—whether beer, wine, or spirits—does not significantly impact how alcohol raises blood pressure.
What are the physiological mechanisms linking alcohol intake to blood pressure?
Alcohol consumption also presents risks for individuals with specific health conditions beyond high blood pressure. Heavy or long-term drinking can damage the heart muscle, a condition known as alcoholic cardiomyopathy. It can also contribute to an increased what is alcoholism risk of strokes, irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), and liver disease.
To lessen the health risks, NHS guidelines recommend drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol a week. If you have high blood pressure, you likely do not need to limit or stop drinking caffeine if you drink it regularly. Sodium causes your body to retain water, which increases the volume of blood in your arteries and raises blood pressure. “Alcohol is certainly not the sole driver of increases in blood pressure; however, our findings confirm it contributes in a meaningful way. Limiting alcohol intake is advised, and avoiding it is even better,” Vinceti said. To prevent various health complications, including high blood pressure, people should try to limit their alcohol consumption to one or two glasses infrequently.
Only four studies included almost equal numbers of male and female participants (Buckman 2015; Foppa 2002; Maufrais 2017; Zeichner 1985). As a result, we were not able to quantify the magnitude of the effects of alcohol on men and women separately. This is unfortunate, as we have reason to believe that the effects of alcohol on BP might be greater in women. The blood alcohol level decreased over time, and 20‐HETE started to rise (Barden 2013). The hypertensive effect of alcohol after 13 hours of consumption could be the result of the rise in vasoconstrictors and the homeostatic response to restore blood pressure.
Dimmitt 1998 published data only
Several mechanisms contribute to this increase in blood pressure with regular alcohol intake. Alcohol can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, leading to increased heart rate and blood vessel constriction. It can also interfere with the body’s natural blood pressure regulation by impacting hormonal balances and increasing levels of cortisol and adrenaline.
Avellone 2006b published data only
Without this signal, the kidneys retain less water, leading to an increased rate of urine production and output. A secondary, yet significant, contributor to the temporary drop in blood pressure is the diuretic effect of alcohol. Fluid balance is controlled by the Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH), also known as vasopressin, which signals the kidneys to conserve water by reabsorbing it into the bloodstream. If a person has concerns that they or someone they know might have a dependency on alcohol, they should seek professional advice and support as soon as they can. Individuals who do not experience withdrawal symptoms will likely see the positive effects of giving up alcohol shortly after doing so.
Possible Blood Pressure SpikeFollowing heavy consumption, individuals might notice an uptick in heart rate and BP. This effect can be more pronounced the morning after, when the body is in withdrawal from alcohol, potentially accompanied by anxiety, sweating, and restlessness. For those with pre-existing hypertension, this compounding effect could be dangerous.
- Last, we attempted to explore the reason for heterogeneity by looking for clinical and methodological differences between trials.
- However, people who are dependent on alcohol or have been misusing alcohol for a long period of time may have difficulty quitting.
- One common question that arises is whether alcohol raises blood pressure the next day after consumption.
References to studies excluded from this review
- Immediately stopping alcohol consumption can be incredibly dangerous if you’re a heavy drinker.
- Agewall 2000 measured blood pressure upon participants’ arrival and did not measure blood pressure after the intervention.
- High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a leading cause of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases, and the relationship between blood pressure and alcohol consumption is a key factor to consider.
- We are aware of one systematic review on effects of alcohol on blood pressure that was published in 2005 (McFadden 2005).
If they tell you this, then they likely took your blood pressure readings at two or three separate office visits. After ruling out other causes, such as caffeine use or stress, they came to this diagnosis. With access to helpful information, resources, and support, we believe that you can overcome any challenge and that you can stop drinking. Hangover EffectsHangovers arise from dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and low blood sugar among other factors, and these are also considerations during alcohol detox.
Risks of Excessive Drinking
This can lead to an enlarged left ventricle (dilated cardiomyopathy), which reduces the amount of blood that can be pumped out of the heart with each beat. When this happens, there is a decrease in blood supply to other parts of the body, such as the brain leading to symptoms like confusion and dizziness. Alcohol Addiction Center is a free, web-based resource helping to bring education and information to the world of alcohol addiction. It is our hope that with increased awareness, more and more people will get help with their alcohol problems. You may even experience a hypertensive crisis, which is a dangerous increase in blood pressure. This is why high blood pressure has been referred to as the “silent killer”.
If you experience any of these symptoms after drinking alcohol, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider. Sticking to these limits is especially important if you’re at risk of, or already have, high blood pressure. Caffeine may cause a brief rise in your blood pressure, even if you don’t have high blood pressure.
Of the 32 studies, two studied low‐dose alcohol, 12 studied medium‐dose alcohol, and 19 studied high‐dose alcohol. The sample size in the meta‐analysis for low‐dose comparison was not adequate to assess the effects of low doses Sober living home of alcohol on BP and HR; however, we believe that the direction of the change in BP and HR was correct. For medium doses and high doses of alcohol, participants represented a range in terms of age, sex, and health condition. Because the participant population comprised predominantly young and healthy normotensive men, the overall evidence generated in this review cannot be extrapolated to women and older populations with other comorbidities. To determine short‐term dose‐related effects of alcohol versus placebo on systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in healthy and hypertensive adults over 18 years of age. Drinking too much alcohol can raise pressure on the walls of blood vessels to unhealthy levels.
.png)
.png)