Alcohol’s Combined Effect
Over time, every additional alcoholic beverage may raise blood pressure.
An increase in the amount of alcoholic drinks drank daily, even in people without high blood pressure, has been proven to cause blood pressure measurements to rise more sharply over time, according to a recent review of 7 worldwide studies. This investigation demonstrates that blood pressure values consistently rise in people who drink alcohol at both low and high levels. Alcohol use, even at low doses, has been related to measurable blood pressure increases, which can raise the risk of cardiovascular events.
To eliminate potential bias brought on by the various alcohol concentrations found in “standard drinks” between nations and beverage kinds, the research was based on grams of alcohol ingested rather than the number of drinks. Over a five-year period, the health information of participants in the seven studies was examined. When regular drinkers and non-drinkers were compared, it was found that those who consumed an average of 12 g of alcohol per day had a 1.25 mm Hg rise in systolic blood pressure, while those who consumed an average of 48 g per day had a 4.9 mm Hg rise. Individuals who consumed an average of 12 grams of alcohol per day also saw an elevation in diastolic blood pressure of 1.14 mm Hg, which rose to 3.1 mm Hg in those who consumed an average of 48 grams per day. Men showed these correlations, whereas women did not.
Although the data show that alcohol contributes significantly to blood pressure increases, it is crucial to remember that it is not the only cause of these increases. As a result, it is advised to limit alcohol consumption, and it would be best to abstain altogether.
It’s interesting to note that the association between alcohol consumption and variations in blood pressure over time was also influenced by the starting blood pressure readings of the participants. There was a larger correlation between drinking alcohol and changes in blood pressure in people with higher baseline blood pressure values. This shows that people with a tendency toward higher blood pressure but not yet high blood pressure may benefit the most from low to no alcohol use.
If a person isn’t already consuming alcohol, the American Heart Association (AHA) advises against starting. The hazards and advantages of moderate alcohol intake should be reviewed with a healthcare professional if a person is already using alcohol. The AHA does not advise ingesting any alcohol, regardless of potential health advantages. Instead, they advise adhering to their Life’s Essential 8 health and lifestyle measures for the best cardiovascular health. Being physically active, eating well, abstaining from smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, getting enough sleep, are some of these measurements.
The analysis was based on data from 7 observational studies with 19,548 participants, ages ranging from 20 to early 70s at the start of the investigations. None of the subjects had ever been previously diagnosed with alcoholism, binge drinking, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or another liver illness. Each study began with a description of the usual alcoholic beverage consumption, which was then converted into the typical number of grams of alcohol consumed daily. The results of several trials were combined, and a curve that showed how any amount of average alcohol consumption affected changes in blood pressure over time was shown using a novel statistical technique.
In conclusion, this investigation offers more proof that a long-term rise in blood pressure is linked to increased alcohol intake. Alcohol consumption should be considered carefully because it may have negative effects on cardiovascular health. Limiting or quitting alcohol use can help keep blood pressure levels healthy and lower the risk of cardiovascular events.
