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Alcohol and hypertension

¹Department of Cardiology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, Oakland, CA 94611, USA.

Clinica Chimica Acta; International Journal of Clinical Chemistry

|March 15, 1996

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Regular, heavier alcohol consumption is linked to hypertension (high blood pressure). Reducing alcohol intake can lower blood pressure, suggesting a causal relationship and highlighting alcohol as a key hypertension risk factor.

Area of Science:

Cardiovascular Science
Epidemiology
Clinical Medicine

Background:

Epidemiologic studies over two decades confirm a strong association between regular, heavier alcohol consumption and hypertension.
This alcohol-hypertension link is observed across sexes and races, irrespective of beverage type, adiposity, education, or smoking status.

Purpose of the Study:

To summarize the established relationship between alcohol consumption and hypertension.
To discuss the evidence supporting a causal link and clinical implications.

Main Methods:

Review of cross-sectional and prospective epidemiologic studies.
Analysis of clinical experiments demonstrating blood pressure changes with alcohol abstinence and resumption.

Main Results:

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Consistent association between heavier alcohol intake and elevated blood pressure.
Blood pressure reduction observed within days to weeks of alcohol abstinence.
No established mechanism identified, and alcohol withdrawal is unlikely the primary cause.

Conclusions:

The relationship between alcohol consumption and hypertension is likely causal.
Clinicians should consider heavy alcohol intake as a potential hypertension risk factor.
Restricting alcohol intake can lower blood pressure in some individuals.