Alcohol’s Effect on Blood Pressure

The standard recommendation for people who drink alcohol is to limit their consumption to one drink per day (for women) and two drinks per day (for men) or less. However, some research suggests that even a single alcoholic beverage, consumed routinely, can have a significant effect on increasing blood pressure.

Research published in the journal Hypertension looked at nearly 20,000 adults, none of whom had high blood pressure at the start of the study. Four to 12 years later, those who drank had higher blood pressure than those who never drank.

The findings suggest that the increase in blood pressure may depend on how much you drink, but also that there’s no “safe” amount. Even a few grams of alcohol may raise both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Researchers note that alcohol is not the only contributor to high blood pressure, but its meaningful effect should not be ignored.

If you have concerns about drinking and its influence on your health, consider talking to your healthcare provider for more information and personalized support.