Alcohol Consumption and Hypertension

As with isolated animal heart experiments, some investigators have found that acute alcohol exposure (blood alcohol levels 40 to 110 mg%) depresses myocardial systolic function in humans (Delgado et al. 1975; Lang et al. 1985; Timmis et al. 1975). For example, in one study, the ejection fraction decreased by 4 percent after alcohol consumption (Delgado et al. 1975). Most likely, the decrease in contractility was offset by corresponding decreases in afterload (end-systolic wall stress), systemic vascular resistance, and aortic peak pressure, which maintained cardiac output. Altered platelet responses (e.g., increased platelet activation/aggregation) leads to blood-clot formation (or thrombosis) in certain CV conditions.

Comparison 1. Intervention on reducing alcohol intake versus control for controlling hypertension.

We followed the same formulae for combining groups if a study reported two different types of alcoholic beverages containing the same amount of alcohol. For the other domains, we grouped outcomes together and provided only one judgement. We contacted study authors for missing or unclear information required for the risk of bias assessment and then reassessed the domains once the information was available.

Fantin 2016 published data only

Abuse of alcohol resulted in approximately 3 million deaths worldwide and 132.6 million disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs) in 2016 (WHO 2018). We included 32 randomised controlled trials involving drug addiction 767 participants published up to March 2019. Although these trials included adults from 18 to 96 years of age with various health conditions, most study participants were young healthy males. We reviewed available evidence about the short‐term effects of different doses of alcoholic drinks compared to non‐alcoholic drinks on blood pressure and heart rate in adults (≥ 18 years) with both normal and raised blood pressure. To determine short‐term dose‐related effects of alcohol versus placebo on systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in healthy and hypertensive adults over 18 years of age. Several studies and meta-analyses have been conducted to determine the relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of developing heart failure in healthy subjects, as well as in those with a history of MI or CHD.

What are the age-related risk factors of alcohol on blood pressure?

The decrease in SBP was greater with 30 g of alcohol seven hours after consumption compared to placebo and 15 g and 60 g alcohol‐consuming groups. In this study, alcohol had no significant effect on DBP in the four groups. It is important to note that, unlike other studies with more discrete alcohol consumption categories, alcohol use was nonspecifically defined in INTERHEART as the consumption of at least 1 alcoholic beverage within the previous 12 months (Leong et al. 2014). Interestingly, the strength of this association was not consistent across different geographic regions.

“As you grow older, health problems or prescribed medicines may require that you drink less alcohol or avoid it completely,” the Institute says. Abstract—Several studies have shown that cessation of alcohol drinking reduces blood pressure (BP). If you notice any of these signs consistently after drinking alcohol, it might be worthwhile to monitor your blood pressure or consult a healthcare provider.

• We conducted meta‐analysis for the three dose groups (low dose, medium dose, and high dose of alcohol) separately.
• It is a common substance of abuse and its use can lead to more than 200 disorders including hypertension.
• INTERHEART results also suggested that the protective effect of any alcohol use against MI was greater in women and those over age 45.
• Chen 1986 did not report consumption duration nor timing of measurement of BP and HR.

Does a glass of wine lower blood pressure?

We assessed data to identify differences in blood pressure, number of deaths and serious diseases between a group of people receiving psychological assistance to reduce alcohol intake and people not receiving this assistance. 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. Several factors are to blame, one being your body’s network of blood vessels, which changes with age. Researchers have pointed out that the potential benefits of wine consumption on heart health may result from other lifestyle factors that are common among people who drink wine, such as their dietary habits or physical activity levels.

Dennison 2007 published data only

• A person can speak with a qualified healthcare professional if they find it difficult to reduce their alcohol intake.
• Older adults may experience more pronounced increases in blood pressure from even moderate alcohol consumption.
• “The guidelines have long recommended no more than one drink a day for women, and no more than two drinks per day for men,” says Luke Laffin, MD, co-director of the Center for Blood Pressure Disorders at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
• Because the reasons behind withdrawal were not mentioned in this study, we considered this study to have high risk of bias.
• While this might seem minor, repeated short-term spikes can accumulate, potentially leading to sustained hypertension over time.

They concluded that tomato juice improved both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as LDL cholesterol. Other recent studies have reported similar results among people with stage 1 hypertension and pregnant women. In addition to making changes to your diet and lifestyle, research shows that several drinks could help lower blood pressure levels and support heart health. The new guidelines used by clinicians nationwide recommend that Americans limit the amount of alcohol they consume. While forgoing alcohol consumption altogether is preferable, the groups found that men should limit their intake to no more than two drinks per day, while women should limit their intake to no more than one per day. The new blood pressure guidelines say that if your systolic blood pressure is in the 130 to 139 range, your medical provider should first encourage you to adopt healthy lifestyle changes.

The magnitude of the effects of alcohol on blood pressure and heart rate varies, based possibly on genetic factors and on the amount of alcohol consumed. We classified seven studies as having high risk of bias (Agewall 2000; Bau 2011; Dumont 2010; Fazio 2004; Karatzi 2013; Maufrais 2017; Van De Borne 1997). Agewall 2000 measured blood pressure upon arrival of participants and did not measure blood pressure after the intervention.

Barden 2007 published data only

Alcohol has been shown to slow down parasympathetic nervous activity and to stimulate sympathetic nervous activity. Hering 2011, Carter 2011, and Spaak 2008 reported an increase in muscle sympathetic nervous activity (MSNA), which persists for at least 10 hours after consumption. The vagus nerve is a component of the parasympathetic nervous system and is largely responsible for regulation of the heart rate at rest. Rossinen 1997 and Van De Borne 1997 reported withdrawal of vagal tone and reduced heart rate variability within an hour after alcohol consumption; this explains the increased heart rate. Buckman 2015, Van De Borne 1997, and Fazio 2001 also reported reduced baroreflex sensitivity following alcohol consumption. Impairment of baroreflex sensitivity results in failure to sense the increase in heart rate and maintenance of cardiovascular homeostasis.

Each woman was given either no alcohol or 15 g of alcohol (1 standard drink) with either a low-carbohydrate or a high-carbohydrate, high-fat meal. The researchers found that the alcohol-drinking subjects (particularly those who were insulin sensitive) had higher insulin levels and a slower rise in glucose levels after a low-carb meal. They recommended confirming these results in younger women and in men, particularly since their subjects had been older women, who have more significant cardiovascular risk. Some investigators have suggested that drinking wine may offer more protection against CV disease because it contains polyphenols, such as resveratrol and flavonoids, which are micronutrients with antioxidant activity (Tangney and Rasmussen 2013).

Quality of the evidence

Another source of potential bias is related to the fact that all included subjects came from a subgroup study, which was a preplanned hypertensive stratum within the original study. However, it must be stressed, in this regard, that individual patient data were provided for the whole subgroup. In PATHS 1998, treatment assignments were randomly determined at the start of the study https://ecosoberhouse.com/ using a fixed randomisation scheme with uniform allocation, variable block size and stratification by clinic. Accordingly, we judged PATHS 1998 as having low risk of bias for the ‘random sequence generation’ and ‘allocation concealment’ domains. Even just one bout of drinking too much may weaken your body’s germ-fighting power for up to 24 hours. Over time, large amounts of alcohol blunt your immune system and your body’s ability to repair itself.

We included randomised controlled trials with minimum 12 weeks alcohol lowers blood pressure duration and including 50 or more subjects per group with quantitative measurement of alcohol consumption and/or biological measurement of the outcomes of interest. According to the meta-analysis, people who had around 3.5 drinks per day saw their systolic blood pressure increase by nearly five points and their diastolic blood pressure increase by three points over five years. Regular heavy alcohol consumption consistently raises blood pressure over time. This long-term effect is the opposite of the common misconception that alcohol lowers blood pressure. Up to 16% of individuals diagnosed with high blood pressure may have developed the condition due to heavy drinking.