Does Alcohol Affect Blood Pressure?

According to the American Heart Association, blood pressure is the result of two separate forces. One occurs from the heart as it pumps blood into the arteries and through the body. The other force is that created by the arteries as they resist the blood. While many external factors can impact blood pressure, two of the most prominent are diet and exercise.

These are largely responsible for the prominence of cardiovascular disease in the United States, and they continue to be a subject of great attention. However, the links between diet and heart health involve more than mere food. Beverages are also a component of this all-encompassing group, and alcohol is no exception. While the health benefits of wine and beer continue to be examined and re-examined, one fact stands tall above the rest: consumption of too much alcohol overburdens the heart and causes irreparable damage.

Alcohol and Your Heart

Studies have shown that drinking in moderation does not pose a threat to health. However, consuming more than three drinks per day is shown to contribute to a variety of cardiovascular problems. Not only does substantial drinking put more fat into the circulatory system and raise triglycerides, but it can also lead to the following conditions:

• Alcoholic cardiomyopathy (enlarged and weakened heart)
• Congestive heart failure
• Atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm)
• Stroke

Moreover, when alcohol is present in the bloodstream, it forces nutrient-rich blood away from the heart. This interferes with blood flow throughout the circulatory system. To counter such an occurrence, the heart must work harder to provide sufficient blood to organs. In this manner, blood pressure is also directly affected.

Alcohol and Blood Pressure

Studies show that alcohol is likely responsible for seven percent of all high blood pressure cases. In addition, medical professionals estimate that alcohol accounts for 25 percent of hypertension cases that have no specific cause. What this means is that alcohol does in fact impact blood pressure, especially when repeated drinking occurs. The exact science behind alcohol and blood pressure is not readily understood. Some research indicates that the chemicals in alcohol impact the blood vessels and arteries. Those chemicals force the vessels to open and close erratically. Blood pressure is thus raised because the blood has to force its way through constricting lines. The bodys automatic nervous system is also stimulated by alcohol.

This is responsible for fight-or-flight responses, which in turn cause blood pressure to mechanically rise for organ sustenance. Long term reactions of this sort can lead to hypertension, a condition that may cause stroke, heart disease and kidney failure. Statistics indicate that more than 17,000 deaths occur annually in the United States because of high blood pressure complications. Even moderate alcohol consumption can cause the adrenal glands to release hormones that lead to long-term high blood pressure. Similarly, drinking that occurs over an extended period may result in high blood pressure as well. This is because alcohol damages the liver and kidneys, both of which are part of the overall system designed to balance blood pressure. When they sustain damage, fluids build-up and can cause substantial health problems.

Alcohol and Medication

Another area in which alcohol is likely to create problems is with blood pressure medication. Studies reveal that alcohol can decrease the efficacy of these treatments and cause uncontrolled blood pressure. A number of patients have even exhibited resistance to medication because of alcohol consumption. Alcohol may also enhance the side effects associated with blood pressure medicine. Some of these treatments are known to make people feel drowsy or tired, conditions that only increase after alcohol consumption. As each medication is different, and all persons react individually to them, health professionals recommend abstaining from mixtures of alcohol and blood pressure medication.

Sources:

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4473

http://www.umm.edu/features/blood_pressure.htm

http://blood-pressure.emedtv.com/high-blood-pressure/alcohol-and-blood-pressure-p2.html

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