How does red wine affect blood pressure?

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It is a well-known fact that a normally functioning cardiovascular system is the key to the health of the entire body. Blood pressure is an indicator by which the health of blood vessels and the heart is judged, and if it begins to increase or decrease, then this indicates the presence of problems in the body. At the same time, it is necessary to know exactly how the consumption of drinks containing alcohol (in particular, wines) affects the development of vascular pathologies.

In order to know the state of health of your circulatory system, you need to regularly visit a cardiologist, who can identify a developing disease at the earliest stages and help avoid serious problems in the future.

Persons with the following diagnoses should not drink drinks containing alcohol:

• 
  hypertonic disease;

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• vegetative-vascular dystonia;
• migraines of various etiologies;
• allergies of any type;
• bronchial asthma;
• stomach and duodenal ulcers;
• gastritis;
• pancreatic diseases (pancreatitis);
• disorders of the nervous system (stress, depression, etc.);
• alcoholism.

It is also important to remember that alcohol is incompatible with medications, because most often it enhances the effect on the body of the main active ingredients in the medicine. If, after drinking alcohol while on medication, a person develops the following symptoms and signs, he or she needs emergency medical care:

• there was a sharp jump in blood pressure, it either increased or decreased to critical values ​​(150/100 and above or below 90/50);
• signs of arrhythmia;
• increased heart rate;
• there are signs of confusion, incoherent speech, delirium;
• fainting;
• increased physical activity;
• pale or red skin;
• cold extremities;
• signs of complete or partial paresis;
• incessant vomiting.

For those people who are undergoing drug treatment for hypertension or suffer from arterial hypertension, doctors recommend completely abstaining from alcoholic beverages.

The effect of large and small doses of alcohol on the body

According to medical research, a direct relationship has been proven between an increase and decrease in blood pressure depending on the dose of alcoholic beverages taken. Scientists have proven that in most cases, a small amount of alcohol reduces mercury levels, while large doses, on the contrary, increase blood pressure.

Permissible doses of alcohol

Alcohol lowers blood pressure if a person takes it in small quantities at a time. This effect is achieved due to the ability of ethanol, which is part of alcohol, to dilate blood vessels. Due to the expansion of arteries and veins, the pressure in the vascular bed drops, which entails a short-term hypotensive effect.

If a person suffers from hypertension, the tonometer readings may decrease or even return to normal, but this effect is usually short-lived. It lasts no more than two hours, sometimes less. It is worth noting that in patients with normal blood pressure this effect will be less noticeable.

To prevent the negative effects of strong drinks, you should remember that there are certain acceptable alcohol standards for men and women. If you do not exceed them, many negative consequences can be avoided.

If we are talking about dry wine or beer, then for men no more than 2 glasses of wine and half a liter of beer are allowed. For women, these standards are reduced and amount to one and a half glasses of wine and 0.3 liters of beer. Representatives of the stronger half can take 75 g of vodka and cognac, and women no more than 50.

Effect of large doses on the body

If you exceed the permissible doses of alcohol, then after 5–6 hours an increase in blood pressure is observed. Many people are mistaken in thinking that alcohol dilates blood vessels and lowers blood pressure.

Uncontrolled alcohol consumption is the first step to heart and vascular diseases

A large amount of alcohol can indeed lower blood pressure for a short time, but after a few hours a strong vasospasm is observed. In addition, ethanol has the following effect on the body:

• stimulation of the central nervous system;
• increased effects of the hormone adrenaline;
• blood thickening.

Against this background, a person experiences headaches, decreased ability to work, apathy, and irritability. Such manifestations are usually called hangover syndrome.

Important! If the permissible doses of strong drinks are greatly exceeded, there is a serious threat of increased blood pressure, hypertensive crisis, heart attack and stroke.

Wine antioxidants

After examining more than 35 thousand people in 1978, researchers decided that daily consumption of dry red wine protected French residents from heart disease and cancer. According to scientists, the most important thing in this drink is polyphenols
. These are biologically active substances that work as antioxidants. They protect the body from the destructive effects of free radicals and become a means of preventing cardiovascular diseases and even cancer. Of course, if you drink wine in moderate doses - one or two small glasses a day.

The effect of alcohol on hypotensive and hypertensive patients

Each person’s body is a complex and individual mechanism, so it is impossible to guarantee that alcohol will increase or decrease blood pressure. To find out how strong drinks will affect the body in a particular case, you should first determine the working pressure, then measure it again 30 minutes after drinking alcohol.

For hypotension

With hypotension, blood pressure begins to decrease even more after ethanol enters the blood. This happens due to relaxation of the walls of blood vessels, acceleration of heart contractions and the speed of blood movement along the vascular bed.

It cannot be said that such an action is observed in all cases. The speed and intensity of the decrease in blood pressure is influenced by factors such as the age of the person, the frequency and size of the dose of drinks taken. Due to the fact that the effect of drinking alcohol can be unpredictable, patients with low blood pressure are not recommended to joke with their health. The consequences are often the most negative.

If you have hypotension while drinking alcohol, your health only gets worse

For hypertension

As already mentioned, drinks containing ethanol in small quantities can lower blood pressure. This applies to both healthy people and patients suffering from arterial hypertension. At the same time, we must not forget that after a short period of time the pressure begins to increase. This action is extremely undesirable for people with hypertension. In addition, the release of adrenaline into the blood increases, and tachycardia may develop. Drinking is especially dangerous for older people with high blood pressure, because alcohol acts as a cause that often provokes heart attacks, strokes and other life- and health-threatening conditions.

Popular varieties and drinking culture

Dry white wine is a beautiful and healthy ritual when consumed correctly. The light taste goes perfectly with fish, cheese, and lean meat (poultry, beef). Fruits, berries, and vegetable snacks go well with the drink. The bouquet of taste largely depends on the original raw materials and grape variety. Popular varieties of high-quality white wine are:

• Riesling. German grape variety with an apple aftertaste. The Riesling variety is widely used to prepare the drink in Argentina, Austria, and the USA. Austrian wine differs most from other producers in its saltiness of taste, so it goes perfectly with fish and seafood.
• Chardonnay. A traditional grape variety from Burgundy with a citrus aftertaste. Tasters claim that when consumed correctly, the aroma of winter freshness is first felt, and then the zest. The drink goes well with turkey, beef, mushrooms and Japanese delicacies.
• Muscat. A popular grape variety of the Mediterranean and Crimea. The fruits carry the aroma of pollen. Muscat wine is drunk with cheese and biscuits.
• Sauvignon Blanc. White wine has a rich range of aromas and flavors. Experts notice spicy, floral, fruity and herbal notes. This wine is made in Chile, the Mediterranean, South Africa, and New Zealand.

White Riesling wine
Dry white wine is recommended to be drunk with a high-quality snack, this is the only way to reveal its aroma. The drink is served in a beautiful wine glass with a thin stem.

What can lead to frequent consumption of strong drinks?

A decrease or increase in blood pressure directly depends on the frequency and amount of alcohol taken. Scientists have proven a close relationship between strong drinks when taken regularly and blood pressure in humans. Studies have shown that frequent intake of even acceptable doses negatively affects health and the circulatory system. We must also not forget about the risk of developing alcohol dependence, in which a person begins to drink more and more often and cannot stop.

Rare intake of ethanol in large dosages, even if we are talking about isolated cases, can also provoke negative consequences, cause high blood pressure and a hypertensive crisis. Considering these facts, we can say that any extremes have a negative effect on the body. Only drinking alcohol in small quantities, no more than 1-2 times a month, will not cause harm.

Important! The more often a person drinks drinks containing ethanol, the more often the numbers on the tonometer rise above normal values.

How to protect your liver?

Do you like wine, systematically exceed the safe dose, and are you worried about weakness, nausea, have you lost your appetite, have you lost weight, have the color of your stool and urine changed? Has your skin turned yellow?

Even if only one such sign appears, consult a doctor immediately.

If you relax with wine infrequently and keep yourself within limits, we still recommend getting examined from time to time, even if nothing bothers you. You don’t have to be an antisocial element or an alcoholic to develop cirrhosis. The liver does not hurt until the very last stages. And both successful and prosperous people get sick.

Here is a list of studies to find out about the condition of the liver and help it in time:

• Examination and examination by a hepatologist-gastroenterologist
• Tests : general blood and urine analysis, biochemistry: ALT, AST, GGT, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, protein fractions, lipid profile, glycosylated hemoglobin.
• Research : Ultrasound of the abdominal organs and elastography of the liver.

If there are deviations in the data from this examination, it is worth doing a more detailed one.

Who to trust?

• For those who do their work conscientiously, we care what happens to you. The initial appointment with our specialist lasts about an hour. This means that we pay attention to the most insignificant, at first glance, details. Often this approach helped to make a diagnosis on time and save the patient’s life. If all is well, you will receive recommendations for prevention. Our doctors do not burden you with unnecessary treatment. If, according to the examination data, you need to treat the digestive system or consult related specialists, your attending physician will monitor and coordinate everything.
• Those who have expert knowledge and high qualifications. Our center employs unique federal-level specialists - professors, doctors of science, candidates of science and doctors of the highest category. For some diseases, they are the only experts in Russia. And, of course, we are attentive to each patient, regardless of his status, and are ready to explain in clear, non-medical language how things are with his health and what the prognosis is.
• Those who accurately diagnose and effectively treat. In our center, you can learn everything about the condition of your liver and the risks of drinking wine in just 1 day—that’s exactly how long it takes for the examination. If the results reveal deviations, it is worth doing a more detailed examination.

Experts at the EXPERT Clinic are ready to give you as much information as possible about your condition. And also a forecast of how your liver will feel in the future, and recommend competent treatment to protect it.

Does the type of alcohol affect blood pressure monitor readings?

According to experts, different types of alcohol can have different effects on blood pressure. It is important to note that this only applies to the permissible doses of such drinks.

The effect of alcohol on the body depends on the type of drink

Reduce blood pressure:

• cognac;
• White wine.

Increases blood pressure:

• beer;
• red wine;
• champagne.

The drinks described above contain a minimal amount of alcohol. If you do not exceed the permissible limits, you can avoid serious complications, hypertensive crisis, increased intracranial pressure and other consequences after alcohol. But when the concentration of ethanol exceeds permissible levels, blood pressure, as a rule, always increases.

What wine is best to drink for hypertension?

Hypertensive patients are advised to drink dry wine with a sour taste. It must be of good quality and without preservatives.

Red wine is considered healthier than white wine!

For people suffering from high blood pressure, it is better to drink red varieties not constantly, but in courses and small portions (30 mg). This form of therapy must be agreed with your doctor.

White and red wine are good for lowering blood pressure levels when combined with mineral water in a 1:2 ratio. The drink contains fruit acids, which help dilate blood vessels.

What else determines the effect of alcohol on the body?

The hypertensive or hypotensive effect of ethanol depends not only on the type of alcohol and the amount drunk. There are some other factors to consider here. The body's reaction can be very unpredictable, which depends on the individual qualities of a particular organism.

Age

Patients under the age of 35–40 years are much less likely to react to alcohol than older people. It is believed that after 40 years of age, blood pressure increases more often when drinking alcohol. This is explained by the fact that the ability of the cardiovascular system to adapt to ethanol intake is reduced. Consequently, after taking intoxicating drinks, a decrease in blood pressure is first observed, which occurs due to vasodilation. Soon after this, the pressure rises due to the release of hormones into the blood and the transmission of nerve impulses. If ethanol continues to enter the body, the pressure rises even more.

Taking medications

The combination of alcohol and certain medications can be the most unpredictable. Mixing antihypertensive and hypertensive drugs with ethanol is strictly prohibited, as this can cause irreversible consequences. If a person takes antiarrhythmic pills, a sharp decrease in blood pressure may occur when changing body position.

The combination of medications and ethanol is considered unacceptable

It is also worth noting that the result from the combination of alcohol and pills depends on the group of drugs taken:

• diuretics in combination with strong drinks can cause a feeling of dry mouth, decreased physical activity, apathy, and dizziness. Sometimes there is a rapid heartbeat;
• beta blockers and ethanol lead to the development of spasm of blood vessels, sometimes the pulse slows down significantly, blood pressure drops below normal;
• ACE inhibitors combined with alcohol lead to an increased effect of taking the medication. It is allowed to combine them to relieve a hypertensive crisis with a strong increase in tonometer readings;
• Calcium antagonists, which contribute to the narrowing of the walls of blood vessels, in combination with alcohol can cause headaches, dizziness, and increased heart rate.

Many patients believe that alcohol-containing medications such as Corvalol, Barboval can be taken together with strong drinks, because both contain ethanol. This is wrong. The fact is that when combined with alcohol, the effect of medications is enhanced, that is, drugs can greatly lower blood pressure, which often entails unpredictable consequences.

Development of an allergic reaction

Patients suffering from hypotension should be aware of the risk of developing an allergic reaction when drinking alcohol. The fact is that such a reaction can occur not just in the form of rashes and itching on the skin, but also as a sharp decrease in blood pressure to critical levels (below 70/40) - anaphylaxis. That is why, if your blood pressure drops regularly, you should take alcohol with extreme caution.

The body's reaction to strong drinks can be the most unpredictable

A little about prevention

A “glass of red” is beneficial only as a reason to observe a certain ritual. Rarely does anyone pour wine into themselves while running: the wine ritual implies good company, delicious food and the absence of urgent matters. But such circumstances in themselves contribute to relaxation, relief from the effects of stress
and the prevention of cardiovascular diseases - even without any wine. And there are polyphenols in green tea and red grapes, which can also be part of a dinner in good company.

Let's sum it up

The discussion about the effect of alcohol on blood pressure can take a long time, because the effect of ethanol is expressed differently under certain circumstances. Despite this, several conclusions can be drawn:

• a short-term decrease in blood pressure is observed after taking small doses of alcohol;
• anaphylaxis, accompanied by a severe drop in blood pressure, can be triggered by the development of an allergic reaction while taking ethanol;
• Regardless of the type of alcohol, high doses of such drinks lead to increased heart rate, tachycardia, and increased blood pressure;
• with regular use of intoxicating drinks in people with alcohol dependence, the risk of hypertensive crises, heart attacks and other complications increases;
• It is dangerous to combine alcohol with any medications;
• people who rarely drink alcohol are more likely to experience hypertensive crises.

The existence of a relationship between alcohol and blood pressure is a scientifically proven fact. Alcohol should be taken in limited quantities. This will help prevent many unwanted consequences and maintain health for many years.