A dietitian has issued a warning that drinking just a small number of alcoholic drinks can raise your blood pressure. This puts you at greater risk of heart attacks and strokes.
It is well known that Brits love a drink. Statistics from Drink Aware show that 48% of adults drink alcohol on at least one day a week. While we may not think that we’re drinking too much, the NHS warns that there is “no completely safe level of drinking”.
Now an expert has revealed that having more than three alcoholic drinks in one sitting could be risky. Writing for the British Heart Foundation (BHF), registered dietitian Tracy Parker explained more about the link between drinking and blood pressure.
“High blood pressure (hypertension) is a major risk factor for heart and circulatory diseases,” she said.
“But, while risk factors for high blood pressure like eating too much salt, physical inactivity and obesity are well-known, the risk that comes from drinking too much alcohol is often overlooked.”
She went into more detail about how much alcohol is needed to affect your blood pressure. Tracy continued: “Alcohol’s effect on blood pressure depends on how much and how often you drink.
“Alcohol can stop brain receptors that help regulate blood pressure from working properly.” She warned that having more than three alcoholic drinks in a sitting can cause a “temporary rise”.
“This is because alcohol stimulates the nervous system, which increases the heart rate and narrows blood vessels, leading to a short-term rise in blood pressure,” she said. But she warned that regularly having more than four alcoholic drinks in a sitting can have a “lasting effect” on your health.
She added: “It can stop receptors in the brain that help regulate blood pressure from working properly, which stops your body from responding to changes in blood pressure and can lead long-term high blood pressure.
« This puts strain on your heart muscle and can damage blood vessel walls, which can lead to fatty material building up on blood vessel walls (atherosclerosis), which increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke.”
Tracy also addressed the notion that red wine is better for your health than other types of alcohol. “But too much of any type of alcohol will negatively affect your blood pressure,” she said.
Alcohol can also impact your blood pressure due to its high-calorie content, leading to weight gain, which is another risk factor for hypertension.
Current NHS guidelines recommend drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol a week. This equates to six pints of beer or six small glasses of wine.
She also urged against binge drinking – more than six units of alcohol in a short space of time. Tracy added: “It can cause significant spikes in blood pressure with repeated binge-drinking episodes leading to long-term increases in blood pressure.
“Sticking to these limits is especially important if you’re at risk of, or already have, high blood pressure. You may consider drinking less or no alcohol. Cutting back or quitting alcohol has been shown to lower blood pressure.”
Other ways to lower your blood pressure include:
- Staying physically active
- Eating a healthy diet
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Avoiding smoking.
If you are concerned about your blood pressure or your drinking habits you should speak to your GP.
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