“Anything but beer is OK, as beer comes with a salt load that can cause high blood pressure and is high in calories.” If it’s not treated, over time high blood pressure can lead to fatty material (plaques) building up in the arteries, which increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Second, lack of representation of the female population was notable in the included studies. Only four studies included almost equal numbers of male and female participants (Buckman 2015; Foppa 2002; Maufrais 2017; Zeichner 1985). As a result, we were not able to quantify the magnitude of the effects of alcohol on men and women separately. This is unfortunate, as we have reason to believe that the effects of alcohol on BP might be greater in women.
The average person’s body can generally handle about one standard drink per hour. Exceeding that rate can lead to rising blood alcohol concentrations, which can contribute to short-term physiological changes and potential harm if done repeatedly over time. Research says that moderate alcohol users are 53% more likely to develop high blood pressure (BP) than nondrinkers.
- “There’s this idea that a ‘big guy’ can ‘handle his liquor’ more than a smaller person, but there are also big guys who may have more body fat or other conditions that may make the long-term effects of alcohol worse,” he says.
- In studies where sex‐specific results were not provided, we categorised dose based on the dominating sex in terms of study participation.
- After analyzing 27 studies, a 2024 study found that as little as two alcoholic drinks disrupt a person’s ability to enter REM sleep.
- Cutting back on alcohol also reduces the risk of related health issues, such as stroke, heart attack, and heart failure.
Who is Most at Risk from Alcohol Affecting Their Blood Pressure
When alcohol is mixed with other depressants such as benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium) or opioids (heroin, oxycodone), it can have a compounding effect on https://ecosoberhouse.com/ the central nervous system. This means that the combined depressant effects can slow down breathing and heart rate to dangerously low levels. Alcohol is a CNS depressant, so mixing it with other “downer” drugs can be extremely dangerous.
McDougle 1995 published data only
These differences in alcohol consumption duration and in outcome measurement times probably contributed to the wide variation in blood pressure in these studies and affected overall results of the meta‐analysis. The dose of alcohol had to be reported by study authors for inclusion in the systematic review. Because there are no published standards for differentiating between low and medium doses of alcohol, we chose the alcohol content in one standard drink as the threshold between low dose and medium dose. Because the alcohol content in one standard drink varies among different countries (ranging from 8 g to 14 g), we chose the Canadian standard for an alcoholic beverage, which is 14 g of pure alcohol (CCSA). To differentiate between medium and high doses, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) identifies less than 30 g of alcohol for men and less than 20 g of alcohol for women as the threshold for low risk of alcohol intake (CCSA). Thus, in our review, we used up to 30 g alcohol intake for men and up to 20 g alcohol intake for women as a moderate dose, and above this limit as a high dose.
Subgroup analysis and investigation of heterogeneity
Binge drinkers are at the greatest risk for experiencing heart problems related to drinking alcohol. Older adults addicted to alcohol are also at high risk of heart issues due to the natural effects of aging on the body. Additionally, individuals with pre-existing heart conditions should avoid drinking alcohol altogether. Evidence shows that long-term alcohol abuse contributes to your risk of alcoholic cardiomyopathy, a type of heart disorder where your heart becomes less effective at pumping blood through your body.
Senault 2000 published data only
Too many episodes of tachycardia could lead to more serious issues like heart failure or arrhythmia (irregular rhythms), which can cause heart attack and stroke. If you drink alcohol, discuss the pros and cons of moderate alcohol use with your doctor, and be aware of the heart and other health risks that may come with drinking, according to the AHA. Keep in mind you shouldn’t drink alcohol for health benefits that haven’t been proven by science, especially if you don’t already drink. “It should be noted that heavy alcohol intake has been shown to increase one’s risk of many medical conditions, as well as one’s risk of sudden death,” Dr. Eisenberg says.
Ajani 2000 published data only
However, alcohol can also temporarily increase your heart rate or cause heart palpitations. If you already have high blood pressure, cutting down on alcohol or stopping altogether can help to reduce or control it. Binge drinking (drinking a large amount of alcohol in one go) can also have a serious impact on your health. If you do drink as much as 14 units per week, it’s best to spread this evenly over 3 days or more.
Selection of studies
- Some research suggests that the impact of having what researchers call a “standard drink” has a limited effect on your heart rate and for only about six hours — if you really stop at one.
- Against this possibility, it was shown that the beneficial antioxidant effect of red wine components could be counterbalanced by the pro-oxidant effects of ethanol metabolites 12.
- In general, stimulant drugs like cocaine, meth, ecstasy, and amphetamines can all have serious effects on the heart.
- Kawano 2000 reported a reduction in plasma potassium levels after alcohol consumption, which might provide another reason for the increase in heart rate.
- However, ascertaining the exact alcohol consumption threshold for determining both the benefit and risk has been challenging, and threshold levels continue to differ across studies.
In addition to the cardiovascular symptoms that we’ve discussed, in some cases, alcohol withdrawal can lead to a range of symptoms that, if left untreated, may pose significant health risks and can even cause death. Chronic alcohol abuse can even elevate the risk of stroke due to its impact on blood pressure and the formation of blood clots. If you have a family history of any cardiovascular illness, doctors recommend that you stop drinking or drastically increase your intake to prevent permanent damage. If you stop drinking after bingeing or heavy use, it can cause unpleasant and dangerous symptoms.
Nicholas 2012 published data only
She has written extensively about vision care, diabetes, dermatology, gastrointestinal health, cardiovascular health, cancer, pregnancy, and gynecology. She was previously an assistant Alcohol Use Disorder editor at Prevention where she wrote monthly science-based beauty news items and feature stories. Whether you choose wine, beer, or spirits, the quantity of alcohol consumed matters more than the type. Your weekly get-togethers often involve a drink or two and getting home from work may have you reaching for a beer before you sit down to relax.
For the planned subgroup analysis based on sex, no study reported male and female participant data separately. We used Cochrane review manager software for all data analyses (Review Manager (RevMan)). We conducted meta‐analysis for the three dose groups (low dose, medium dose, and high dose of alcohol) separately.
Alternatively, chronic reduction/interruption of alcohol intake could be part of the lifestyle changes that are recommended for the achievement of better blood pressure control in hypertensive patients. Additional experimental animal and human data suggest that alcohol consumption impairs endothelial function, decreasing nitric oxide generation and increasing formation does alcohol cause high blood pressure of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress 43. Moreover, both acute 44 and chronic 45 ethanol exposure stimulate endothelin release from cultured human endothelial cells. All these effects of alcohol might contribute to blood pressure increase in heavy drinkers.
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