A new study of seven scientific research that examined over 19,000 people indicated that everyday drinking is linked to a gradual increase in systolic blood pressure. The results appeared in American Heart Association journal Hypertension.
Alcohol consumption increases systolic blood pressure even after one drink. Systolic blood pressure is the “top” value. It monitors artery pressure during heartbeat.
Alcohol is not the only cause of blood pressure rises, but our data suggest it does. Limiting and avoiding alcohol is recommended.”
Systolic blood pressure climbed 1.25 mmHg in persons who drank 12 grams of alcohol each day, according to the study. Alcohol consumption of 48 grams per day raised systolic blood pressure by 4.9 mmHg.
Men who drank more moderately had higher diastolic blood pressure, but women did not.
The American Heart Association says diastolic blood pressure measures force on artery walls between heartbeats “and is not as strong a predictor of heart disease risk in comparison to systolic.”
Although none of the individuals in the experiments had hypertension (high blood pressure) before they started, the researchers found that those with higher blood pressure were more likely to have it increase as they consumed alcohol.