Impact of Alcohol Consumption Frequency and Tobacco Use on Blood Pressure (DBP, SBP, HR): A Cross-Sectional Study

Alcohol consumption has been associated with higher blood pressure (BP) and an increased risk of developing chronic hypertension; however, the possible exposure thresholds and effect-modifiers are uncertain. A positive response relationship exists between smoking and hypertension, too, and both combined can result in detrimental health effects. This pilot project conducted BP screenings at community events, food drive events, and church community services around Davidson County in Nashville, Tennessee, from May 2025 to July 31, 2025. From the data, the study explored the correlation of smoking and alcohol consumption and its effect on Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), and Heart Rate (HR). One hundred sixty-seven participants completed BP screenings at four public housing communities of Metropolitan Development Housing Authority (MDHA), three religious settings, i.e., community church, and two health fairs. Then, the study utilized generalized linear models to assess the association between alcohol consumption and tobacco use on BP measures. There were no significant associations between combined patterns of alcohol consumption and smoking on SBP, DBP, or HR. However, tobacco use alone was associated with a ninefold increase in HR, compared to non-users. Future studies should consider smoking patterns (e.g., daily versus occasional smoking), types (e.g., vaping versus cigarette use), and a larger population cohort to validate these results.