[Consumption of alcohol and arterial hypertension]

The author carried out an investigation on two groups of chronic alcoholics (heavy and moderate drinkers) in order to further discuss the problem of the relation between alcohol and hypertension. The study consisted in two stages: in the first, subjects recruited underwent repeated controls to establish the extent of alcohol abuse and the value of basal blood pressure; later, during a program of restricted alcohol consumption, further checks were made to evaluate the effect of abstension or notable reduction in alcohol intake; a progressive decrease in the blood pressure values previously registered, not dependent on changes in drugs or diet, was reported.