Limiting Alcohol to Manage High Blood Pressure American Heart Association

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), researchers have found that nearly all drugs impact the circulatory system, specifically the cardiovascular system, which regulates heart function. Adverse health consequences of drug abuse on the cardiovascular system range in severity from abnormal heart rate to heart attack and death. But having more than three alcoholic drinks daily could increase your risk for a type of stroke caused by bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic strokes). There is some evidence that moderate amounts of alcohol in particular red wine might help to slightly raise levels of good cholesterol, however physical activity can also boost your HDL cholesterol without the need for a glass of wine.

Participants in those studies consumed alcohol regularly during the study period, whereas in our systematic review, we included only studies in which participants consumed alcohol for a short period. Based on nine studies, McFadden 2005 reported that the mean increase in SBP was 2.7 mmHg and in DBP was 1.4 mmHg. The inclusion of non‐randomised studies in McFadden 2005, which are known to be at higher risk of bias, is likely the reason for the discrepancy in the magnitude of BP effects. We classified nine studies as having high risk of bias (Agewall 2000; Bau 2011; Buckman 2015; Dumont 2010; Fazio 2004; Karatzi 2013; Maufrais 2017; Rossinen 1997; Van De Borne 1997). Agewall 2000 measured blood pressure upon participants’ arrival and did not measure blood pressure after the intervention.

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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 also calculated SD if 95% CI, P value, or t value was reported in the included studies, according to Chapter 7 of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (Higgins 2011). If we were not able to get SD from the study authors or calculate SD from the values mentioned above, we imputed SD using the following hierarchy (listed from highest to lowest) (Musini 2014). The molecular mechanisms through which alcohol raises blood pressure are unclear.

The unit of measurement for blood pressure is millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a very common condition worldwide. Many interrelated changes are possibly responsible for the biphasic effect of alcohol on blood pressure. In the case of performance bias, we classified six studies as having low risk of bias, 19 studies as having high risk of bias, and seven studies as having unclear risk of bias. Refer to Characteristics of included studies and Table 4 for further details regarding these studies. If you drink heavily and are unable to stop, you may benefit from a dedicated treatment program.

Data collection and analysis

Of the 32 included studies, seven studies used a manual mercury sphygmomanometer or a semi‐automated sphygmomanometer for BP measurement (Bau 2005; Dai 2002; Karatzi 2005; Kojima 1993; Potter 1986; Rossinen 1997; Van De Borne 1997). Mixing of various measurement techniques (manual, semi‐automated, and fully automated) in the meta‐analysis might have led to some of the heterogeneity. For selective reporting for heart rate (HR), we classified only Koenig 1997 as having high risk of bias because heart rate was not reported. We classified the remaining 33 studies as having low risk of bias because heart rate was measured and reported.

• When blood pressure decreases, these receptors help minimize how much the blood vessels stretch to increase blood pressure.
• And if you have an underlying health condition such as diabetes or kidney disease, ask your doctor whether it’s safe for you to drink at all.
• Over time, this reduces insulin’s effectiveness in regulating blood sugar levels, leading to chronically high blood sugar.
• A population‐based study showed that the incidence of hypertension is higher in African descendants (36%) than in Caucasians (21%) (Willey 2014).

However, people who are dependent on alcohol or have been misusing alcohol for a long period of time may have difficulty quitting. Cortisol increases the release of catecholamines, which are chemicals in the body that help regulate many processes and help keep the body functioning as it should. It also regulates metabolism, immune function, and inflammatory pathways.

AuYeung 2013 published data only

With professional help, you can begin repairing damage to your circulatory system. By not drinking too much, you can reduce the risk of these short- and long-term health risks. There’s a popular belief that alcohol — especially red wine — is good for the heart. Making https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/how-does-alcohol-affect-your-blood-pressure/ certain dietary changes has proven to be effective in managing high blood pressure. Read on to know how it works for maintaining healthy blood pressure levels. Alcohol ultimately leads to high blood pressure that can become chronic when heavy alcohol use is continued.

Some people should avoid even that much and not drink at all if they have certain heart rhythm abnormalities or have heart failure. Our Recovery Advocates are ready to answer your questions about addiction treatment and help you start your recovery. Detox is the process of a substance being metabolized and removed from the body. Alcohol detox may cause mild to severe symptoms, depending on how long a person used alcohol and how much they tended to drink.