Recently, there has been a lot of talk within the medical community regarding the link between alcohol and hypertension. High blood pressure can be caused by a number of things, and can certainly be exacerbated through excessive stress and weight gain, and sometimes alcohol and blood pressure go hand in hand.
Alcohol is often associated with relaxation, which you would presume to be great if you were suffering from high blood pressure, but not all kinds of alcoholic drinks are equal. Not only does excessive drinking cause weight gain and damage the liver, it can also create emotional disturbances. While some might find a single Scotch on the rocks satisfying and relaxing, others may find themselves consuming five or ten bottles of beer and suddenly feeling very mad or sad about something that occurred during the day.
Everything In Moderation:
The big thing to remember if you feel like having a drink, is to use portion control as a guide to reduce the chances of establishing a link between alcohol and blood pressure in a negative way. The human body is a fickle thing, and while having more of something good might seem to be better, it can often have negative effects. This is true of food, alcohol, and even exercise. When you minimize your intake of these things to a healthy level, you might be surprised at the change in the outcome.
Many studies have shown that a glass of red wine a day can offer wonderful benefits, such as countering the effects of aging and helping in weight loss. The antioxidants in wine play a large role in this, but the relaxation many wine drinkers feel can also help those who may be at risk of hypertension due to anxiety and stress.
Other Factors That Play A Role:
If you're a woman, over fifty, overweight, a smoker, or show other risks of heart disease and high blood pressure, then the association of alcohol and blood pressure may lean more toward the negative side of the health spectrum. A single glass of red wine, or a similar serving of alcohol is not likely to have any effect on the body, while over imbibing on a regular basis can take quite a toll.
Another factor to consider is whether or not you have already been diagnosed with high blood pressure, or if you are simply at risk. If you visit your doctor or take a home test to determine your blood pressure and the results leave you in the clear then the link between alcohol and blood pressure is minimized for you, whereas somebody who is already dealing with high blood pressure should take more precaution.
As with any medical condition, if you have concerns or questions regarding your drinking and blood pressure, it is important to direct these queries to a medical professional. Your doctor can tell you whether you should be worrying about having a few drinks on the weekend or if your drinking is becoming too much for your heart and other organs. It can be quite easy to lie about how much you are drinking in the hopes that your doctor won't judge you, but it is crucial that you are always open and honest with exactly how much alcohol you consume when you are trying to determine whether or not it could have a negative effect on blood pressure.