Sodium causes your body to retain water, which increases the volume of blood in your arteries and raises blood pressure. Cutting back on alcohol is one of the most effective ways to reduce your risk of hypertension. Even small changes, like switching to lower-alcohol beverages or having alcohol-free days, can make a significant difference. When you drink alcohol, it’s quickly absorbed into your bloodstream through the stomach and small intestine. From there, it travels to your liver for processing, but some circulates throughout your body, affecting your heart, arteries, and blood pressure.

This review will be useful for social and regular drinkers to appreciate the risks of low blood pressure within the first 12 hours after drinking. When noradrenaline stimulates the adrenergic receptors located in the heart muscles, heart rate alcoholism symptoms and blood pressure are increased. We are also moderately certain that high‐dose alcohol decreased blood pressure within six hours, and the effect lasted up to 12 hours. Heart rate increased significantly after alcohol consumption and remained increased at all times measured.

Stott 1991 published data only

If you are over 50, the systolic pressure (the pressure reading how does alcohol affect high blood pressure when your heart beats) is of more concern. You’ll be given a diagnosis of “isolated systolic hypertension” if your top reading is greater than 130, but your diastolic or lower reading is less than 80. This timeframe ensures your cardiovascular system returns to its baseline state without alcohol-induced interference. Medical professionals recommend avoiding alcohol for hours before any blood pressure assessment for accurate results.

• These effects amplify the risk of cardiovascular events, including strokes and heart attacks.
• Cortisol is a hormone that plays a role in many bodily functions, including blood pressure regulation.
• High cortisol levels also promote inflammation, which can damage the lining of the arteries and further contribute to both high blood pressure and the complications it can cause.

Pitsavos 2004 published data only

By cutting back or quitting alcohol, you can also reduce your risk of other health problems. Begin eating a healthy diet high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. You should also decrease your intake of foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol, decrease your sodium intake, cut down on caffeine and alcohol, and stop smoking. This diet and other sensible dietary changes may help you to lose any excess pounds you may be carrying. It can also lead to sleep apnea, which is a disruption in your breathing that can also lead to higher blood pressure.

Toth 2012 published data only

Some evidence suggests that reducing alcohol intake in heavy drinkers could help reduce BP, but much more research is required to validate these observations. Cortisol, plasma renin activity (causing vasoconstriction and sodium and water retention), and impaired endothelial function (inhibiting vasodilatory responses and promoting oxidative stress) have also been reported in heavy drinkers. Research indicates that even one standard drink can elevate blood pressure by 2-4 mmHg within 6 hours of consumption.

Moderate alcohol consumption is generally defined as up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Hence, we conducted additional analyses to see if the very high dose of alcohol (≥ 60 g or ≥ 1 g/kg) had any dose‐related effects compared to lower high doses of alcohol (31 to 59 g of alcohol) (see Table 9). Results suggest that the decrease in BP with very high doses of alcohol is greater compared to lower high doses of alcohol. However, the result was heterogeneous; therefore, we are unable to make any implications from this. There is likely a dose‐response effect of alcohol on BP, as the effects of alcohol appeared to last longer with higher doses. We intended to find out the dose‐dependent changes in SBP, DBP, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and HR after consumption of a single dose of alcohol.

Hering 2011 published data only

This happens because long-term alcohol use can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate blood pressure by affecting hormone levels, increasing sympathetic nervous system activity, and promoting inflammation https://kvcshop.nl/alcohol-and-depression/ in blood vessels. Long-term heavy alcohol consumption induces adverse histological, cellular, and structural changes within the myocardium. These mechanisms contribute to the myocyte cellular changes that lead to intrinsic cell dysfunction, such as sarcoplasmic reticular dysfunction and changes in intracellular calcium handling and myocyte loss. However, modulatory influences related to drinking patterns, genetic susceptibility, nutritional factors, ethnicity, and gender also many play a role (Piano and Phillips 2014) (figure 4).

Fazio 2004 published data only

Any disagreements regarding inclusion or exclusion of studies were resolved by discussion between review authors. The reason for exclusion was documented for each citation at the full‐text level. We also checked the list of references in the included studies and articles that cited the included studies in Google Scholar to identify relevant articles. All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared alcohol to placebo or similar tasting non‐alcoholic beverages were included in this systematic review. They do not pass readily through cell membranes, and they are major components of very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs), which are converted in the blood to LDLs.

Is drinking small amounts of alcohol good for your heart?

This is because alcohol stimulates the nervous system, which increases the heart rate and narrows blood vessels, leading to a short term rise in blood pressure. Older adults — drinkers, nondrinkers, it doesn’t matter — are already at risk for hypertension. Research suggests that 74.5 percent of people 60 and older have high blood pressure, compared with 54.5 percent of adults ages 40 to 59.

• “Those who drink heavily are three times as likely to be hypertensive” as those who abstain.
• Acute administration of alcohol stimulates the release of histamine and endorphin, which interferes with baroreflex sensitivity (Carretta 1988).
• Your body weight, gender, and drinking frequency all influence how much alcohol affects your readings.

Argani 2016 published data only

However, regularly having more than 4 alcoholic drinks in a sitting can have a lasting effect on your health. Working with your cardiologist and focusing on your lifestyle – like the foods you eat, exercising, and avoiding alcohol – are key, Goldberg says. An occasional drink may not make a significant difference if your high blood pressure is under good control with medication and/or healthy habits like diet and exercise. Kimberly Goad is a New York-based journalist who has covered health for some of the nation’s top consumer publications. Her work has appeared in Women’s Health, Men’s Health and Reader’s Digest.Dr. Merle Myerson is a board-certified cardiologist with specialties in sports medicine, lipids, women’s health and prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Dealing with missing data

The long-term impact of alcohol on blood pressure depends on various factors, including the amount and frequency of alcohol consumption, individual health status, and genetic predisposition. While limited research specifically addresses whether alcohol raises blood pressure the next day, heavy or binge drinking can contribute to elevated blood pressure, especially in susceptible individuals. It’s important to practice moderation, stay hydrated, and monitor blood pressure to maintain cardiovascular health when consuming alcohol. Consulting with healthcare professionals for personalized advice and guidance is always recommended. Yes, reducing alcohol consumption can help lower blood pressure, particularly if you’ve been drinking heavily or regularly.