High Blood Pressure Due to Alcohol?

What Influence Does Alcohol Have on Blood Pressure?

The relationship between Blood Pressure and alcohol can be confusing. On one hand, alcohol has a vasodilating effect, which is clearly visible in the often observed reddening of the face after consuming alcoholic beverages. One might think that vasodilation normally lowers blood pressure, and they would not be entirely wrong. Dilated vessels alone do lower blood pressure - that is true. However, the vasodilation caused by alcohol only occurs temporarily. And: The metabolism of larger amounts of alcohol triggers several mechanisms in the body that lead to vasoconstriction. For example, increased sympathetic activity due to alcohol leads to the release of blood pressure-raising hormones. These cause (in addition to an increase in heart rate) a narrowing of the vessels blood pressure rises. This is exacerbated when alcohol is consumed to relieve stress or - as is often the case - when smoking is involved.

In the second instance, alcohol negatively affects the body through increased calorie intake, as many calories often lead to overweight. And this is frequently associated with hypertension.

Another connection arises from the harmful effects of alcohol on the organs. Organ damage from regular or excessive consumption of spirits can lead to excessively high blood pressure values as a consequence.

Finally, the direct effect on blood pressure is also situation-dependent. Alcohol can - like other intoxicants - enhance the emotional state of the consumer. A glass of beer or wine consumed in a relaxed setting has less of a blood pressure-raising effect than the same amount of alcohol consumed in a tense, aggressive mood.

Occasionally having a glass of beer or wine is also permissible for hypertensives. For men, the guideline is no more than 30 g of alcohol daily, which corresponds to about a quarter liter of wine or half a liter of beer. For women, this threshold is slightly lower - at 20 g of alcohol daily. These amounts are unlikely to have a long-term effect on blood pressure. However, regular, especially excessive alcohol consumption does raise blood pressure.

Therefore, it is important not only for the sake of blood pressure to limit alcohol consumption at least.

However, an American study has now shown a connection between hypertension and even moderate alcohol consumption of 7 - 13 alcoholic beverages per week. Compared to people who do not drink alcohol, there was already a 50% increased risk of developing hypertension.
In 2023, a meta-analysis of seven long-term studies on the relationship between alcohol consumption and an increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure was published. This shows that there are no threshold values, but any consumption of alcohol negatively affects blood pressure. According to the results of this analysis, there is no safe amount of alcohol that can be consumed. The blood pressure-raising effect of alcohol begins with the first glass and increases linearly with the amount of alcoholic beverages consumed.

In connection with medications, alcohol consumption often results in an increased risk of side effects. Additionally, the effect of the medication can be enhanced or diminished. This concerns not only the situation of swallowing pills with alcohol but also alcohol consumption during the period when medications are taken.

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By Sabine Croci. This article is medically reviewed. Last updated (01/2024).
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High Blood Pressure Due to Alcohol?

What Influence Does Alcohol Have on Blood Pressure?

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