Alcohol Blood Pressure Facts and Information

You may not think about blood pressure when you think about alcohol but there is a clear connection between the two that you should be aware of. Alcohol actually has a direct impact on your blood pressure both short term and long term so it's important that you learn about how it is affected and what response your body will take.

Drinking too much alcohol can actually raise the blood pressure which is a serious problem for anyone who already has hypertension (high blood pressure). However, it's also dangerous to people with a normal blood pressure because it can cause you to develop the condition over time.

Another thing that people who already have hypertension should be aware of is that the medications you are taking for your high blood pressure can react negatively with alcohol. Each time you drink along with your blood pressure medications, you could be counteracting the effects that the meds are having. If you are uncertain about whether or not you can drink alcohol with the blood pressure medications, talk to your doctor about it right away.

Here are some other important facts about alcohol as it relates to blood pressure:

·   Drinking alcohol can cause weight gain, increasing blood pressure

·   Cutting back from heavy drinking to moderate drinking can have a big impact on blood pressure

·   Alcohol can interfere with the effects of the medications you take for your blood pressure

·   Too much alcohol can also affect your liver, heart health and brain

It's important to take a proactive approach to your health. When you know you are high risk for high blood pressure or that you have already been diagnosed with hypertension, it's a good time to begin doing something about it. Watching your alcohol intake is one of these things. While drinking alcohol can be an enjoyable activity, it's not worth the risk of your overall health and well being.

Moderate drinking is recommended by doctors, especially for those already at risk of blood pressure problems. However, what constitutes moderate drinking can be different according to who you ask. As an overall guideline, one drink for women and two drinks for men per day is considered "moderate".

What constitutes a "drink" also depends on what type of alcohol you are drinking. On average, health care professionals consider one drink to be 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer and 1 ½ ounces of 80-proof whiskey.

If you have been a heavy drinker, dropping the amount of alcohol you consume can have a direct impact on your blood pressure. How much it lowers it will depend on different factors such as your weight, other health conditions, how much you drank and how much you cut back, your age, your current blood pressure as well as other medical conditions.

If you have a problem with quitting or cutting back on your alcohol consumption or if you fear you may have an alcohol addiction, it's important to talk to your doctor right away about possible treatment options. Alcohol addiction can cause many problems, not only high blood pressure. 

Related article: Blood Pressure and Your Diet.