Does alcohol affect blood pressure?
Yes, alcohol affects blood pressure, in both directions. A drink can lower pressure for a few hours, then it rebounds higher overnight and the next day. Regular drinking above moderate levels raises average pressure steadily.
Cutting from heavy to light drinking lowers readings by roughly 3 to 5 points, sometimes more, within weeks. It is one of the most underrated blood pressure treatments.
If your readings run high, count your weekly drinks honestly and try a two week break while measuring at home. The numbers will tell you what alcohol was contributing.
Source: NHS, high blood pressure
See a doctor promptly if
- A reading of 180/120 mmHg or higher with chest pain, breathlessness, weakness on one side, slurred speech, confusion or sudden visual change. This is an emergency
- Blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or higher in pregnancy, especially with headache, upper abdominal pain, visual disturbance or sudden swelling
- A repeated reading of 180/120 mmHg or higher even without symptoms. This needs same-day medical assessment
- New severe headache, nosebleeds that will not stop, or breathlessness lying flat alongside high readings
- Blood in the urine, or a sharp fall in how much urine you pass, together with high readings
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Answered by the AskDoc Medical Team · Medically reviewed under our Medical Director, MBBS · How we review
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