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Binge drinking and ambulatory blood pressure
1Department of Psychiatry, Tampere University Hospital, the University of Tampere, Medical School, Finland.mekase@uta.fi
Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979)
|February 4, 1999
Summary
Binge drinking temporarily raises blood pressure and pulse rate. Blood pressure drops below baseline as alcohol leaves the body, potentially increasing stroke risk in young adults.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Alcohol Metabolism
- Public Health
Background:
- Alcohol consumption is known to affect blood pressure (BP).
- Limited data exists on the acute effects of binge drinking on BP.
- Understanding these effects is crucial for public health, especially concerning stroke risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the acute effects of binge alcohol consumption on blood pressure and pulse rate.
- To compare BP and pulse rate during intoxication, alcohol level decrease, and hangover phases with sober baseline values.
Main Methods:
- Twenty healthy male social drinkers participated.
- Alcohol was administered (2.2 g/kg) in controlled settings.
- Ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) was used over 6-hour periods during intoxication, alcohol decrease, hangover, and a sober baseline.
Main Results:
- During intoxication, systolic BP increased by 5 mm Hg and diastolic BP by 5 mm Hg (P=0.0183, P=0.0529), with pulse rate increasing by 18 bpm (P=0.0001).
- As alcohol levels decreased, systolic BP was 4 mm Hg lower and diastolic BP was 5 mm Hg lower than baseline (P=0.0331, P=0.0058), with pulse rate still elevated by 15 bpm (P=0.0001).
- No significant BP differences were observed during the hangover period.
Conclusions:
- Binge drinking acutely elevates systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate.
- A significant drop in blood pressure below baseline occurs as alcohol is metabolized.
- These rapid BP fluctuations may contribute to the increased incidence of strokes observed in young adults during periods of heavy alcohol consumption.