How does alcohol affect blood pressure? Here’s What to Know

livewell
November 15, 2024
Noah Bennett

The Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the force put on blood vessels. This includes systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The systolic blood pressure is the pressure within the heart arteries when it contracts. In contrast, diastolic blood pressure is the lowest pressure in the heart arteries when it relaxes between contractions. The unit is mmHg.The normal blood pressure range is 120/80mmHg.If the range exceeds 120/80mmHg it falls under the category of high blood pressure or hypertension. On the other hand, if the blood pressure is below 120/80mmHg it falls under the category of low blood pressure or hypotension. This blog will explore “How does alcohol affect blood pressure?”

How Does Alcohol Affect Blood Pressure?

Let’s discuss” How does alcohol affect blood pressure?”. Consuming alcohol affects blood pressure in various ways. Let’s have a look at the alcohol impact on blood pressure. The information below will answer” Does alcohol raise blood pressure?”.

The Alcohol Effect on the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System

Drinking alcohol affects the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. The kidney controls RAAS, and RAAS controls blood pressure through three hormones: renin, aldosterone, and angiotensin. Alcohol influences RAAS by increasing renin levels which causes blood vessel tightening. Additionally, this means that the blood vessel diameter becomes smaller. Moreover, renin also decreases the fluid quantity the body excretes as urine. The overall impact of liquid level in the body at a higher value and smaller blood vessels increases the overall blood pressure.

The Effect of Alcohol on Vasopressin Level

Alcohol reduces the vasopressin level. Vasopressin, an antidiuretic hormone, causes the body to hold water limiting the amount of urine the kidney produces. Additionally, this worsens the diuretic effect and results in dehydration.

The Alcohol Effect on Cortisol Levels

Another effect of alcohol is that it increases cortisol levels. Cortisol controls the body’s response to stress. Additionally, it plays a role in metabolism, inflammatory pathways, and immune system function. Cortisol increases the release of catecholamine. Additionally, catecholamines regulate many bodily functions. The high level of catecholamines results in less fluid excretion thus affecting the blood pressure level.

The Alcohol Effect on Baroreceptor Sensitivity

Consuming alcohol decreases baroreceptor sensitivity. Baroreceptors regulate blood pressure. Additionally, the baroreceptors types are high and low-pressure baroreceptors.

When the pressure of blood is low, baroreceptors contract the blood vessels, hence increasing the pressure of blood. On the other hand, when blood pressure increases, baroreceptors relax the blood vessels to decrease blood pressure. Drinking alcohol prevents the baroreceptors from identifying a need to constrict the blood vessels; thereby the diameter increases, raising blood pressure.

The Effect of Alcohol on Blood Calcium Levels

Alcohol increases the calcium that binds to blood vessels, making them more sensitive to the compounds that tighten them. This constriction increases blood pressure.

The Definition of Standard Drink

A beverage containing 14g of pure alcohol defines the standard drink. This quantity appears in:

335ml of the regular beer with an alcohol content of 5%.
148ml of wine with 12 percent alcohol.
44ml of distilled spirits containing 40% alcohol.

While these values are useful, however, alcohol content can vary. For instance, some beers can have twice as much alcohol content as above.

The Drinking Types

Experts categorize drinking into three types. These types include the following:

Heavy Drinking

Heavy alcohol consumption:

For men 4 or more drinks in a day.
For women 3 or more drinks in a day.

Binge Drinking

Binge drinking:

For men 5 or more drinks within 2 hours.
For women 4 or more drinks within 2 hours.

Moderate Drinking

Moderate drinking:

For men 2 or fewer drinks in a day.
For women 1 or fewer drinks in a day.

How does alcohol affect blood pressure? The studies suggest that heavy and moderate alcohol use results in hypertension in both males and females. One study in the Journal of American College of Cardiology concluded that the participants who drank moderately or heavily had a higher risk of hypertension compared to those who never had alcohol. Another study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association shows that binge drinking increases blood pressure in males but not in females. However, women should still avoid binge drinking to be on the safe side.

Other Adverse Effects of Alcohol Consumption

This blog highlighted “How does alcohol affect blood pressure? “Now, let’s discuss other risks associated with alcohol consumption. The short-term risks of alcohol are as follows:

Alcohol poisoning.
Body injury.
Difficulty breathing.
Hypothermia.
Difficulty talking.
Memory problems.

The long-term risks of alcohol are as follows:

Liver failure or disease.
Mental health issues like anxiety, depression, etc.
Cancer.
Heart diseases like stroke, irregular heartbeat, etc.
Infertility.
Weight gain.
Weak immunity.
Malnutrition.
High blood glucose levels.

The Impact of Avoiding Alcohol

Avoiding alcohol can have an impact on blood pressure and heart health. Different studies show that preventing alcohol improves blood pressure levels. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements often reduce when alcohol consumption is reduced or completely avoided, thus this lowers the risk of high blood pressure-related complications. For people who drink heavily, the advantages can be significant. Cutting off alcohol helps reduce pressure on the heart and permits the blood pressure regulation processes to recover. Additionally, it stabilizes hormones such as renin and aldosterone thus promoting heart health. There is a significant association between alcohol and blood pressure. Excessive consumption of alcohol leads to high blood pressure. Withdrawal of alcohol reduces blood pressure which leads to weight loss, this also controls hypertension. Alcohol is a calorie-dense beverage so its reduction or toral withdrawal can lead to weight loss and reduce pressure on the heart and blood vessels. Additionally, alcohol reduction or withdrawal reduces the chances of heart disease and it also enhances sleep quality. Although avoiding alcohol is a challenging process, its benefits are quite phenomenal.

Tips for Managing Alcohol Intake

Let’s discuss some tips to help manage alcohol consumption.

Choose light beers, wines, or mocktails with shallow alcoholic content. Some of these drinks will let an individual attend social events but without excessive alcohol intoxication and associated calorie intake. This reduces the overall calories consumed that contribute to weight gain .
Limit your alcohol consumption. Plan a schedule wherein you can decide how much alcohol you could take in a week. Stick to the schedule.
If you are not able to stop consumption of alcohol on your own, seek help. Doctors or other practitioners can provide advice and resources that may prove helpful to a person who may need these. Furthermore, joining a support program can make quitting alcohol easier.
Another effective method of keeping yourself out of excessive alcohol consumption is to keep track of your intake.

By implementing these strategies, an individual can manage alcohol consumption.

When to Seek Medical Attention

If an individual notices signs and symptoms that alcohol is impacting their health, it’s crucial to seek medical attention. Some of the signs that indicate you need medical attention are as follows:
If an individual experiences headaches, chest pain, or faintness, which could be associated with alcohol intake, they should seek medical attention.
When an individual notices higher blood pressure readings than normal, and he/she is suspecting that alcohol consumption might be the cause, it’s important to seek medical attention. Uncontrolled hypertension can result in serious health issues like cardiovascular disease and stroke.
If an individual notices that alcohol impacts their mental health, they should seek medical advice.
When an individual finds it difficult to control their alcohol intake despite understanding its risks, they should seek medical attention.

What to Expect while Seeking Medical Advice

When you seek medical advice, healthcare professionals will likely assess your alcohol intake patterns and blood pressure, and evaluate other health conditions if you have. They may advise:

Changes in the Lifestyle

The healthcare professional will guide you on how to reduce or eliminate alcohol intake in a way that is suitable for you.

Medications

In some cases, the healthcare professional might prescribe certain medications to help manage alcohol cessation or hypertension.

Referrals to Support Group of Programs

The healthcare professional might refer you to support groups or programs to help manage alcohol consumption.

Conclusion

In conclusion, alcohol consumption can increase the risk of hypertension and other metabolic disorders in various ways. For instance, alcohol can affect cortisol and vasopressin levels, baroreceptor sensitivity, and RAAS, all of which can result in high blood pressure. To prevent the risk of health complications, an individual must limit his/her intake. Furthermore, if an individual suspects he/she has alcohol addiction then seeking medical advice is essential.

FAQ

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Can alcohol affect blood pressure?

Yes, alcohol affect blood pressure by temporarily increasing the blood pressure, particularly due to heavy drinking. Additionally, heavy drinking can result in long-term hypertension and other heart-related issues.

Does drinking alcohol affect blood pressure?

Yes, drinking alcohol affects blood pressure.