Why Does Alcohol Cause Hypertension
Alcoholic beverages are regular drinks in most parts of the world. If consumed in little to moderate amounts, alcohol can be healthy for most individuals. However, drinking too much alcohol can create many problems including an increase in blood pressure. Having more than three drinks back-to-back can increase your blood pressure temporarily, but if you keep doing it frequently, you may develop a long-term condition called hypertension .
How alcohol causes hypertension is still not confirmed. Research suggests that the following effects of alcohol on the body can cause high blood pressure.
- Damage to the endothelium
- Atherosclerosis
- Effect on the nervous system
- Changes in sensations of blood pressure receptors in the body
- Increase in cortisol
- Increased calcium levels in the walls of the arteries
- Effect on hormones that constrict and relax the arteries
Heavy alcohol drinking increases blood pressure by about 5 to 10 mmHg and the increase in systolic pressure is more than that in diastolic blood pressure.
Wine Eases Blood Pressure Risks
Moderate Wine Drinkers With High Blood Pressure Face Lower Risks
Sept. 17, 2004 — Wine may literally be the blood of life, according to a new French study that shows wine appears to lower the health risks associated with high blood pressure.
In fact, researchers say wine may be the key ingredient that helps explain why people with high blood pressure are more likely to die from heart disease in the U.S. than those with the same high blood pressure in the Mediterranean.
The study found that moderate wine drinkers at every level of blood pressure were significantly less likely to die from any cause during a 13- to 21-year follow-up period.
For example, moderate wine drinkers with an average systolic blood pressure of 158 mm Hg had a 23% lower risk of death due to any cause than nondrinkers. Systolic blood pressure levels over 140 mm Hg and diastolic levels over 90 mm Hg are considered high.
But drinking more than 60 grams of alcohol a day from wine or a combination of wine and beer was not associated with any reduction in death risks. One small, 4-ounce glass of wine contains 10.5 grams of alcohol and a 12-ounce bottle of beer has about 11 to 14 grams of alcohol.
Does Excessive Drinking Contribute To Heart Disease
Heavy drinking, on the other hand, is linked to a number of poor health outcomes, including heart conditions. Excessive alcohol intake can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure or stroke. Excessive drinking can also contribute to cardiomyopathy, a disorder that affects the heart muscle.
Whats more, alcohol can contribute to obesity and the long list of health problems that can go along with it, McEvoy says: Alcohol is a source of excess calories and a cause of weight gain that can be harmful in the long term.
The takeaway, McEvoy says, is what you probably already knew: If you choose to drink alcohol, stick to moderate levels of drinking, and dont overdo it. Were not talking about going out and drinking yourself merry and then expecting good heart outcomes, McEvoy says.
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How Does Red Wine Help Protect The Heart
The benefits of red wine come from polyphenols naturally occurring compounds that have antioxidant properties. Polyphenols like resveratrol and procyanidins have been linked to a variety of health benefits, including cardiovascular health.
How exactly do these compounds protect the heart?
Studies suggest that these polyphenols:
- Boost good cholesterol
- Lower bad cholesterol
- Reduce blood clotting
So, wines with high levels of resveratrol and procyanidins are considered the best for your heart.
Is Distilled Vinegar Good For High Blood Pressure
This author has been verfied for credibility and expertise
Fact Checked
According to the Center for Disease Control, high blood pressure affects one in three Americans 1. A contributing factor to both heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure can have serious health consequences 1. Claims that vinegar, a common household item, can lower blood pressure have been investigated in animal studies 1. Although the preliminary results are encouraging, the effectiveness of vinegar as a therapeutic agent to treat high blood pressure is still unclear 1.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
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Should You Take Garlic For High Blood Pressure
So, is garlic good for high blood pressure? Some of the most powerful reported garlic benefits include improving the health of diabetics, fighting and preventing cancer, and reversing heart diseases in its early stages, while it is especially proven to reduce high blood pressure.
The antihypertensive effect of garlic is associated with its antioxidant and bioactive sulfur content, especially S-allylcysteine and allicin. Studies and larger systematic reviews show that garlic extract is more effective than a placebo for reducing blood pressure in hypertensive patients.
Garlic can be taken as raw and dried garlic, cooked garlic, garlic juice, garlic oil, and garlic supplements like powders, tablets, oils, and aged garlic extract and pure allicin. Consult your doctor before taking any supplement, including any form of garlic.
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Alcohol And Blood Pressure
A 2018 study, echoed by the World Health Organization , concluded that no amount of alcohol is safe for consumption, as alcohol leads to a loss of healthy life. Drinking frequently or binging on a large amount of alcohol in a small period of time can lead to health problems.
Drinking alcohol may also increase blood pressure for a short amount of time even in healthy people. If you drink too much over time, chronic hypertension can develop.
Hypertension leads to an increased risk of other health problems, including stroke, heart attack, and heart disease.
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Wine And Blood Pressure
While red wine has been touted to have many heart health benefits, lowering blood pressure is not one of them. Treat red and white wine equaling when it comes to blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, consume wine in moderation.
If your blood pressure is not in control, I recommend you eliminate alcohol completely until your blood pressure is well-managed.
Researchers in Spain did find high blood pressure benefits were connected to drinking non-alcoholic red wine. Extra emphasis on the NON-ALCOHOLIC part.
Is Red Wine Good For My Heart
While were on the subject of alcohol, lets talk about red wine specifically. Youve probably heard the saying, A glass of red wine a day keeps the doctor away. But how true is that really? Well, its debatable.
Theres indeed some research that shows that people who drank 1 to 2 glasses of wine daily were less likely to be hospitalized than those who didnt drink at all or those who drank too much. But this doesnt mean that the glasses of wine are directly responsible for the lower likelihood of hospitalization. The belief that alcohol is good for your health may be influenced by other non-alcohol-related factors in those studies.
For example, one study was conducted in Italians who ate a Mediterranean diet, which is generally considered to be more healthy than the standard American diet. Others looked at French and Japanese people whose diets and levels of physical activity are also different from the average American.
The American Heart Association suggests moderation above all else.
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First What Factors Can Affect My Blood Pressure
When you or your doctor checks your blood pressure, what do those numbers tell you? For one thing, they give you an idea of how healthy your heart and blood vessels are. When your heart pumps out blood to the rest of your body, your blood vessels should be stretchy enough to take on all that incoming blood. If your blood vessels are stiff, theres less flexibility when that blood flows through, which translates to higher blood pressure.
So, things that affect how much blood your heart pumps out and how stretchy your blood vessels are include:
-
Not being physically active
-
Having diabetes
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Drinking alcohol
Family history, genetics, and older age are factors outside of your control that can affect blood pressure, too.
Is High Blood Pressure Bad
High blood pressure is a common problem in our country. Nearly half of all adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association . Untreated high blood pressure significantly increases your risk for heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and other serious health problems. High blood pressure accounts for more deaths from cardiovascular disease than any other modifiable risk factor in the U.S. It is second only to cigarette smoking as a preventable cause of death for any reason. We all need to understand the dangers of high blood pressure. Lets talk today about some common myths about high blood pressure and the dangers of believing them.
Myth I feel fine, so my blood pressure must be normal. TruthMyth No one in my family has high blood pressure, so I dont have to worry.TruthMyth A blood pressure of 140/80 is considered normal.TruthMyth All people with elevated blood pressure need medication.TruthMyth I dont have to worry about salt because I dont add salt to my food at the table.TruthWhat should you be doing to stay on top of high blood pressure and decrease your risk?
If you have any more questions just Ask Hanna, our health advisors are here to help.
Dr. Anita Bennett MD Health Tip Content Editor
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Myth: Red Wine Lowers Blood Pressure
Fact: Theres no definitive evidence that red wine lowers blood pressure. In fact, alcohol actually raises blood pressure. But since alcohol tends to relax people, it may lower your blood pressure slightly although only for a short period of time, and it wont help with chronic hypertension. Talk to your doctor about other ways you can lower your blood pressure, like exercising moderately and eating a diet rich in healthy fats.
Wine Calms High Blood Pressure
In the study, which appears in the September issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers followed more than 36,000 healthy middle-aged men who were not taking drugs for heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure.
The men’s health and drinking status were recorded in an exam conducted between 1978 and 1985 and deaths among the group were tracked for 13-21 years.
Overall, 4,203 deaths were recorded during the study period. Researchers found that at each blood pressure level, men who drank less than 60 grams of alcohol a day from wine were less likely to have died from any cause than those who didn’t drink, even among those with high blood pressure.
Specifically, men with an average systolic blood pressure of:
- 158 mm Hg had a 23% lower risk
- 139 mm Hg had a 27% lower risk
- 116 mm Hg had a 37% lower risk
The study was supported by the French Ministry of Agriculture and the European Institute for Wine and Health.
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I Have High Blood Pressure Can I Still Drink Wine
Q: I have high blood pressure. Can I still drink wine?
A: High blood pressure, or hypertension, refers to a condition in which blood is pumped through the circulatory system at a force that could potentially damage the heart. Because several different factors, from genetics to lifestyle habits, can cause high blood pressure, you should consult a physician before making any change in your diet and alcohol consumption.
Having said that, researchers at the School of Public Health at Wuhan University in China recently conducted a meta-analysis of nine previous studies that address the relationship between alcohol and high blood pressure. Their analysis looked at data from more than 400,000 individuals, categorizing them into four groups based on their volume of alcohol consumption. Overall, the risk for heart problems was lower for those who drank more alcohol. The authors of that paper concluded that among those who have hypertension, drinking low-to-moderate amounts of alcohol seems to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease or of all-cause mortality.
Other studies, however, have found that alcohol consumption, especially binge drinking, raises blood pressure temporarily, and chronic binge drinking may lead to longterm problems with hypertension. Much of this research, however, has not distinguished wine from other forms of alcohol wine is likely cardioprotective in some ways that other types of alcoholic beverages are not.
Just 1 Drink A Day May Increase High Blood Pressure Risk
Moderate alcohol consumption is thought to be heart healthy, but a new study suggests that the truth is more complicated.
Drinking alcohol, even in moderation, may increase your risk of developing high blood pressure, say researchers.
Yes, this is the same moderate that weve been told many times before is heart healthy.
While earlier research has suggested that light and moderate alcohol consumption reduces the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, a new study has a different finding.
This study certainly adds a twist to the notion that moderate alcohol consumption is beneficial for cardiovascular health, said Dr. Gregory Marcus, director of clinical research, Division of Cardiology, at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not involved in the study.
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1988 and 1994.
People in the study reported their drinking behavior on several questionnaires. Study staff also measured participants blood pressure at home or at a mobile examination center.
Researchers studied over 17,000 people and found those who consumed 7 to 13 drinks of alcohol per week were 53 percent more likely to have stage 1 hypertension, compared to nondrinkers.
Heavy drinkers more than 14 drinks per week were 69 percent more likely to have stage 1 hypertension than nondrinkers. One standard drink contains about 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol.
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Reduce Your Risk Of Hypertension
Hypertension is one of the most preventable alcohol-related problems. Drinking less alcohol lowers your blood pressure.
Reducing the amount you drink can help you lose weight. This is also good for heart health.
Hypertension causes most problems when its left untreated. Get your blood pressure checked regularly so that you can get treatment if you need it.
Your GP or pharmacist can check your blood pressure.
What Are The Benefits Of Red Wine For High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a condition in which the force of blood against your artery walls is too high. Eventually, uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to heart failure. In addition to blood pressure medications and lifestyle changes, red wine may be an appropriate supplement to improve your blood pressure. Before drinking red wine, consult your physician to make sure that the alcohol in red wine will not alter the effects of your medications.
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Myth: Red Wine Lowers Cholesterol
Fact: Keeping your cholesterol within a healthy range is important if you want to reduce your risk of heart disease.
According to a study published in Clinical Nutrition, red wine increases good cholesterol. On the flip side, nonalcoholic red wine decreases levels of bad cholesterol. LDL levels stayed the same in people who drank alcoholic red wine, so keep this in mind when you order a glass with dinner.
What Is The Healthiest Alcohol To Drink
7 Healthy Alcoholic Drinks
- Dry Wine Calories: 84 to 90 calories per glass.
- Ultra Brut Champagne. Calories: 65 per glass.
- Vodka Soda. Calories: 96 per glass.
- Mojito. Calories: 168 calories per glass.
- Whiskey on the Rocks. Calories: 105 calories per glass.
- Bloody Mary. Calories: 125 calories per glass.
- Paloma.
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Is Feta Cheese Bad For High Blood Pressure
Feta cheese is produced from cows milk, and it has a very strong flavor and grainy texture.
It has a low content of calories and fat compared to other cheese. However, Feta is high in sodium, it is pressured in a brine solution with a high content of salt, which increases high blood pressure. Therefore, feta cheese is not quite good for high blood pressure.
Spirits Beer And Wine: Is There A Difference
There is a significant amount of data to show that drinking large quantities of alcohol, whether it is a spirits, beer, or wine, can increase the risk of developing hypertension.
It has also become clear over time that no amount of alcohol is considered safe for consumption, regardless of the type of alcohol.
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Effect Of Garlic On Blood Pressure
Garlic is well known for its chemical composition, and it contains about 33 important sulfur compounds that include allicin, ajoene, aliin, diallyl disulfide, diallyl trisulfide, vinyldithiines, S-allylcysteine, and S-allylmercaptocystein. Garlic also contains a number of minerals and vitamins, such as vitamin B6, vitamin C, selenium, manganese, iron, calcium, potassium, and copper.
Garlics antihypertensive effect is associated with its antioxidant and bioactive sulfur content, especially allicin and S-allylcysteine.
Several studies show the positive effect of garlic on blood pressure. One study published in the journal Maturitas in 2010 suggested that taking four capsules of aged garlic extract daily for a three-month period would cause blood pressure to lower by an average of 10 points.
Other research published in the journal Integrative Blood Pressure Control in 2014 found that aged garlic extract could potentially lower blood pressure in hypertensive patients in a similar way to the standard blood pressure treatment.
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the journal BMC Cardiovascular Disorders in 2008 suggests that garlic preparations are more effective than a placebo for decreasing blood pressure in hypertensive patients.
Others believe that the antihypertensive effect of garlic may be associated with its ability to prevent the digestive system from turning fat into cholesterol.
