Many people relax by having a drink or two at the end of a hard day. Few, though, are likely to be aware of the impact alcohol can have on their blood pressure, and ultimately, on heart health. Consuming alcoholic beverages definitely has a direct impact on blood pressure both short term and long term.
Anyone who drinks a lot is likely to develop high blood pressure which is also called hypertension. However, excessive use of alcohol can also be dangerous to those with normal blood pressure because it can lead to increased blood pressure over the years.
Anyone who consumes a lot of alcohol should keep in mind that medications you take for hypertension might possibly react with in a dangerous way and cause the medications not to work. Each time you drink alcoholic beverages with your blood pressure prescriptions, you could be counteracting the effects that the meds are having. If you are not sure about whether you can imbibe with the blood pressure medication that you’ve been prescribed, visit with your physician about it as soon as you can .
Here are some other important facts about alcohol as it relates to blood pressure:
Alcohol consumption will almost certainly put pounds on you, increasing your blood pressure.
Cutting back from heavy drinking to moderate drinking will probably have a positive effect on blood pressure.
Alcohol can have a negative impact on your blood pressure medications .
Too much alcohol can also cause problems with your liver, heart and brain.
We should all be proactive about our health. If you believe you may be at high risk for blood pressure problems, or if your physician has already told you that you have hypertension, it’s never too soon to begin doing something about it. Watching your alcohol consumption is one of these things. While drinking alcohol can be an enjoyable activity, it’s not worth the risk of your future health and well being.
There’s been some research lately that suggests moderate drinking may have some health benefits. One drink for women and two drinks for men a day is defined as “moderate”.
The type of drink you consume also matters. On average, doctors consider one “drink” drink to be 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer and 1 ½ ounces of 80-proof whiskey.
If you have been a heavy drinker for a period of years, limiting the amount of alcohol you use is likely to bring down your blood pressure. How much it comes down will depend on a number of factors including your weight, other health conditions, your age, your current blood pressure, and so on.
If you find it’s tough for you to quit or cut back on your alcohol consumption, or if you think you may have developed an addiction to alcohol, see a counselor right away about possible treatment options.
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