Liquor ads always remind us to drink in moderation, but what if you have an underlying condition, like high blood pressure? Can you still have alcoholic beverages? Here’s what you need to know about alcohol and hypertension.
Medically reviewed by Martha Juco, MD · Aesthetics
Liquor ads always remind us to drink in moderation, but what if you have an underlying condition, like high blood pressure? Can you still have alcoholic beverages? Here’s what you need to know about alcohol and hypertension.
If you’re hypertensive, chances are, your doctor asked you to avoid alcohol or, at the very least, make sure that you’re not drinking too much.
You see, drinking too much raises the blood pressure to unhealthy levels.
For instance, having more than three drinks in one sitting may increase your BP temporarily. But, if you repeatedly binge drink, you might have long-term increases.
The bottom line is, drinking in moderation is a rule that still applies to people with high blood pressure.
We cannot talk about alcohol and hypertension without defining what drinking in moderation means. Whenever you drink alcohol, remember the following guidelines:
There may seem to be a negative connection between alcohol and hypertension, but for many experts, it’s all about moderation.
But drinking in moderation can be quite confusing, especially if you don’t know how much is one standard drink.
Note that one drink is not equivalent to one glass. To determine how much is one standard drink, you need to determine how much alcohol your drink contains. Basically, one drink means:
The bottom line is, whenever you want a drink, you need to determine the alcohol content first.
Does the negative connection between alcohol and hypertension soften up if the drink in question is red wine?
The short answer is no. While many studies point out that red wine has many benefits due to its antioxidant content, you still need to consume it in moderation.
Besides drinking in moderation, please note that there are other dangers to drinking alcohol if you’re hypertensive.
For one, drinking alcohol may result in weight gain, which is a major risk factor for hypertension. Of course, liquor can also interact with your hypertensive medications.
To avoid the negative consequences of drinking alcohol while you have hypertension, talk to your doctor about the type of liquor you can drink, how much to have, and when to have it.
Finally, don’t forget that controlled liquor consumption is just one factor in making sure you reach your target blood pressure. A heart-healthy diet and regular exercise are also crucial. Moreover, if you have maintenance medicines, you need to take them as prescribed.
What’s the connection between alcohol and hypertension? According to experts, people with high blood pressure should avoid or at least limit alcohol intake. If they want to drink, they have to do so in moderation.
As a general rule, women should not have more than one drink per day. Men should only have up to two drinks daily. Note that the amount of one drink differs as it depends on the alcohol content of the drink.
Learn more about Hypertension here.
Disclaimer
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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