Don’t wait— reach out today to take the first step toward taking control of your life. ST extracted data, checked data entry, conducted data analysis, interpreted study results, and drafted the final review. Many interrelated changes are possibly responsible for the biphasic effect of alcohol on blood pressure. Refer to Characteristics of included studies and Table 4 for further details regarding these studies. All outcomes of interest in the review (BP and HR) produced continuous data. We calculated and reported mean difference (MD), with corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI).
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Although moderate drinking might not always cause immediate, significant spikes in blood pressure, chronic heavy drinking often pushes those levels into the hypertensive range. Methodological differences between studies might have affected measurement of the reported outcomes. Recent research suggests that automated ambulatory blood pressure monitors are more reliable than manual sphygmomanometers, particularly because automated monitors reduce white coat anxiety (Mirdamadi 2017). 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 automated) in the meta‐analysis might have led to some of the heterogeneity.
You could either raise or lower your blood pressure if you drink beer every night
We considered statistical, clinical, and methodological heterogeneity between study populations and proceeded with the meta‐analysis if only we considered interventions, comparisons, and outcome measures similar enough to pool. When trials compared more than one dose of alcohol, we handled each comparison separately. Because all of our outcomes of interest provided continuous data, we used the inverse variance approach and a fixed‐effect model to combine https://ecosoberhouse.com/ effect sizes across studies. Alcohol can affect drinkers differently based on their age, sex, ethnicity, family history, and liver condition (Cederbaum 2012; Chen 1999; Gentry 2000; Thomasson 1995).
Zilkens 2005 published data only
We’ve talked about wine, but what about beer — can beer raise blood pressure? Just like any other alcohol, beer might lead to a does beer lower blood pressure short-term drop in blood pressure followed by a rebound spike. Another seldom-considered but vital component of the alcohol-related rise in blood pressure is baroreceptors, which are cells that sense the stretch or strain in blood vessels and help modulate blood pressure accordingly. Alcohol consumption can lead to a reduction in baroreceptor sensitivity, causing these cells to be less effective in signaling for blood vessel relaxation.
For low doses of alcohol, we found that one glass of alcohol had little to no effect on blood pressure and increased heart rate within six hours of drinking. As you can see, alcohol impacts blood pressure levels through various mechanisms. Even small amounts may cause spikes, while regular heavy drinking can seriously endanger your heart health long-term. Keeping your blood pressure at healthy levels is important to minimize your risk of heart disease, stroke, and other complications.
- Even while there was a stronger link between hypertension and alcohol use among people who drank more than two glasses per day, moderate drinkers didn’t appear to fare any better than those who abstained from alcohol.
- Alcohol influences blood pressure through several complex and interconnected pathways.
- Overall, alcohol’s impact on blood pressure involves a combination of nervous system activation, hormonal changes, and vascular damage, which together increase cardiovascular risk over time.
- In studies where sex‐specific results were not provided, we categorised dose based on the dominating sex in terms of study participation.
- Red wine often gets singled out for its potential heart-protective properties, thanks to antioxidants called polyphenols (resveratrol is one commonly mentioned).
Some people may be able to continue to drink alcohol in low amounts if they have high blood pressure. If you have developed any complications of high blood pressure or alcohol intake, your doctor can also help you manage them as well. Alcohol use can raise blood pressure, trigger heart rhythm problems, and lead to conditions like alcoholic cardiomyopathy. A person should speak to their doctor if they have concerns about their blood pressure or alcohol intake. Various drinks may help a person reduce their blood pressure, such as tea or beetroot juice. A person who has hypertension should avoid consuming too much caffeine or soda.
Long-Term Effects of Regular Alcohol Consumption on Blood Pressure
The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion notes that people between the ages of 18 and 39 years who are not at risk of hypertension should have Sober living home their blood pressure checked by a doctor at least every 3–5 years. A 2022 study found that people with severe hypertension who drank 2 or more cups of coffee per day had a higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Additionally, doses of over 240 mL were also able to reduce diastolic blood pressure. Diastolic blood pressure is the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats.
- Consuming more than 30 grams per day has shown a strong, dose-dependent relationship with higher blood pressure levels.
- Look for enjoyable alcohol-free activities to fill your non-drinking nights, which will make it easier to cut back without feeling as if you’re missing out.
- We believe that inclusion of those studies will provide useful information about the dose‐related magnitude and time‐course effect of alcohol on blood pressure in people with both normal and elevated blood pressure.
So, it was not possible to conduct a subgroup analysis based on blood pressure. For the planned subgroup analysis based on sex, no study reported male and female participant data separately. The carry‐over effect in a cross‐over trial can confound the effects of subsequent treatment. We recorded the washout period of each included study reported by study authors to decide if there was risk of a carry‐over effect. If it was appropriate to combine cross‐over trials with other trials, we used the recommended generic inverse variance approach of meta‐analysis. We tested the effect of cross‐over trials through sensitivity analysis by excluding them from the meta‐analysis to check if the effect estimate changed significantly.
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Research shows that even moderate drinking can raise systolic and diastolic measures, gradually increasing cardiovascular disease risk. Thus, maintaining alcohol intake within recommended limits is crucial for blood pressure management. The amount of alcohol required to affect blood pressure can vary from person to person. Factors such as age, overall health, genetics, and individual tolerance levels all play a role.
Characteristics of studies
The blood alcohol level decreased over time, and 20‐HETE started to rise (Barden 2013). The hypertensive effect of alcohol after 13 hours of consumption could be the result of the rise in vasoconstrictors and the homeostatic response to restore blood pressure. Plasma renin activity was reported to be increased in Kawano 2000 as a late effect of alcohol consumption. Different types of alcoholic beverages including red wine, white wine, beer, and vodka were used among 32 studies. The dose of alcohol ranged between 0.35 mg/kg and 1.3 g/kg, and alcohol was consumed over five minutes and over one hour and 30 minutes.