Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure to unhealthy levels. Having more than three drinks in one sitting temporarily increases your blood pressure, but repeated binge drinking can lead to long-term increases. Heavy drinkers who cut back to moderate drinking can lower their systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) by 2 to 4 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and their diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number in a blood pressure reading) by 1 to 2 mm Hg. Heavy drinkers who want to lower blood pressure should slowly reduce how much they drink over one to two weeks. Heavy drinkers who stop suddenly risk developing severe high blood pressure for several days. If you have high blood pressure, avoid alcohol or drink alcohol only in moderation. Moderate drinking is generally considered to be: Two drinks a day for men younger than age 65 One drink a day for men age 65 and older One drink a day for women of any age A drink is 12 ounces (355 milliliters) of beer, 5 ounces (148 milliliters) of wine or 1.5 ounces (44 milliliters) of 80-proof distilled spirits. Keep in mind that alcohol contains calories and may contribute to unwanted weight gain — a risk factor for high blood pressure. Also, alcohol can interfere with the effectiveness and increase the side effects of some blood pressure medications. Weightlifting: Bad for your blood pressure? Menopause and high blood pressure: What's the connection? Oct. 03, 2015 See more Expert Answers Does drinking alcohol affect your blood pressure? Answers from Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D. With Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D. References Products and services Free E-newsletter Subscribe to Housecall Our general interest e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics. Sign up now Products and Services Book: The Mayo Clinic A to Z Health Guide Mayo Clinic Membership The Mayo Clinic Diet Experience Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program Book: Mayo Clinic 5 Steps to Controlling High Blood Pressure DVD: Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for High Blood Pressure Book: Mayo Clinic Healthy Heart for Life! See also Medication-free hypertension control Adrenal Nodule Create Health Risks After a flood, are food and medicines safe to use? Alpha blockers Amputation and diabetes Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors Angiotensin II receptor blockers Show more Advertisement Policy Opportunities Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization. Proceeds from website advertising help support our mission. Mayo Clinic does not endorse non-Mayo products and services.
Comments
Post a Comment