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We also checked the lists of references in the included studies and articles that cited the included studies in Google Scholar to identify relevant articles. Furthermore, we contacted authors of included studies to obtain all relevant data when information was insufficient or missing. Rosito 1999 reported the effects of 15, 30, and 60 g of https://ecosoberhouse.com/ alcohol compared to placebo on healthy male volunteers. According to our pre‐specified dose categories, both 15 g and 30 g of alcohol fell under the medium dose category.
Even moderate alcohol intake could cause high blood pressure. Learn what you can do to reduce the risk
- In order to further our understanding of the issue, it would be essential to do more research on the pathophysiology of alcohol-induced hypertension.
- As drinking continues, we start to see alcoholic cardiomyopathy, where heavy drinking can weaken and enlarge the heart muscle, reducing its pumping efficiency, and increased risk of heart failure, stroke and sudden cardiac death.
- When thinking about changing your alcohol consumption, if you think your intake may be excessive, it is important to look at patterns of drinking to develop a plan to safely reduce alcohol intake.
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 alcohol and hypertension automated) in the meta‐analysis might have led to some of the heterogeneity. We identified Stott 1987 and Barden 2013 from Analysis 3.1 and Analysis 3.2 as having a considerably lower standard error (SE) of the mean difference (MD) compared to the other included studies.
- Some people wonder if specific types of alcohol, like red wine or beer, are better for blood pressure alcohol.
- Alcohol can cause blood vessels to constrict and heart rate to increase, putting extra strain on the cardiovascular system.
- However this mechanism is implicated more likely in acute alcohol-induced hypertension.
- Laffin recommends that patients with borderline or uncontrolled high blood pressure at least cut back on alcohol if they’re trying different blood pressure meds or want to treat it with lifestyle changes alone.
- On average, drinkers consume 32.8 grams of pure alcohol per day, and beer (34.3%) is the most consumed alcoholic beverage (WHO 2018).
Mizushima 1990 published data only
If you’re considering reducing your alcohol intake, you may want to try some alcohol alternatives. While past research has suggested a potential benefit of regularly consuming a small amount of alcohol each day, newer research has called those findings into question and noted that more studies are still needed. Your blood pressure is elevated if it is 120 to 129 systolic and 80 to 89 diastolic. Individuals who do not experience withdrawal symptoms will likely see the positive effects of giving up alcohol shortly after doing so. Blood Pressure Categories Infographic describing the corresponding blood pressure readings between normal and hypertensive crisis. ST extracted data, checked data entry, conducted data analysis, interpreted study results, and drafted the final review.
Evidence of a causal role of heavy alcohol intake in hypertension would receive strong support from evidence that the discontinuation of alcohol consumption lowers blood pressure. For this reason, many studies, including randomized clinical trials, examined the effect of reduction/withdrawal of alcohol intake in hypertension 19,102,103,104,105,106. Because of important heterogeneity in participants’ characteristics, assessment of adherence to alcohol restriction, and follow-up duration, evidence of the possible benefits of alcohol withdrawal on blood pressure reduction, obtained in these studies, is rather weak.
Fazio 2004 published data only
Randin et al53 have reported that dexamethasone (2 mg per day) in human suppresses the acute alcohol-induced hypertension. It is suggested that ACE inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1) blockers, because of their ability to increase the cardiac output in patients with alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy will be useful in the treatment of alcohol-induced hypertension. Cheng et al65 have shown that angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockade prevents alcoholic cardiomyopathy in dogs.
The aim of Fazio 2004 was to determine the effects of alcohol on blood flow volume and velocity. Study authors mentioned only that acute ethanol administration caused a transitory increase in BP at 20 minutes. Karatzi 2013Maufrais 2017 and Van De Borne 1997 measured blood pressure before and after treatment but did not report these measurements. Hypertension can be genetic or may be due to environmental factors such as poor diet, obesity, tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, and sedentary lifestyle (Weber 2014; WHO 2013). A population‐based study showed that the incidence of hypertension is higher in African descendants (36%) than in Caucasians (21%) (Willey 2014). Proper management of hypertension can lead to reduction in cardiovascular complications and mortality (Kostis 1997; SHEP 1991; Staessen 1999).
The same association was subsequently reported in a rural Chinese population in whom Yang et al. observed that left ventricular mass was directly related to the amount and frequency of marijuana addiction alcohol consumption 62. It is important to point out that, in the Yang study, this relationship was also present in a subset of patients with hypertension and was independent of blood pressure levels. A direct relationship between alcohol intake and left ventricular hypertrophy was also reported in Japanese hypertensive patients by Seki et al., and was independent from blood pressure levels and metabolic variables 63. Interestingly, this study pointed to the possibility that the relationship between alcohol and hypertension could be somehow related to uric acid. It is well established, in fact, that an increase in uric acid could be secondary to alcohol ingestion 64,65, and previous studies reported a significant and independent association of uric acid levels with hypertension 66 and left ventricular hypertrophy 67.
Burke 2001 published data only
Arterial hypertension is considered the leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality worldwide. Because of the widespread and ever-growing use of alcoholic beverages worldwide, the effects of alcohol on blood pressure have been in the spotlight for decades. Current evidence indicates that, despite some variability between genders and among different ethnic groups, sustained alcohol intake above 30 g per day significantly, and dose-dependently, increases the risk of hypertension. Excess alcohol intake might also contribute to the development of hypertension-related cardiac damage, independently of blood pressure. Furthermore, alcohol might affect additional cardiovascular risk factors that increase the cardiovascular risk of hypertensive patients. However, the evidence currently available in support of the possible benefits of the restriction of alcohol consumption on hypertension, and its complications, is all but conclusive and deserves further investigation.
Alcohol’s effect on blood pressure is complex and depends heavily on the amount and frequency of consumption. Acutely, a moderate amount of alcohol can cause a temporary drop in blood pressure due to its initial vasodilating effect, which widens blood vessels. However, this is often followed by a rebound increase in blood pressure several hours later, accompanied by an elevated heart rate. Currently, there is little data on the association between alcohol use and hypertension. Considering the high prevalence of both alcohol use and hypertension, as well as hypertension’s possible association with other cardiovascular risk factors, a link between the two is likely.
Diastolic BP decreased significantly (by an average of 5.2 mm Hg) in the advice group compared with the control group. We also found moderate‐certainty evidence showing that alcohol raises HR within the first six hours of consumption, regardless of the dose of alcohol. Moderate‐certainty evidence indicates an increase in heart rate after 7 to 12 hours and ≥ 13 hours after high‐dose alcohol consumption, low certainty of evidence was found for moderate dose of alcohol consumption. We are moderately certain that medium‐dose alcohol decreased blood pressure and increased heart rate within six hours of consumption. We did not see any significant change in blood pressure or heart rate after that, but the evidence was limited.