A dietitian revealed the exact number of drinks that could have a serious effect on your blood pressure
A nutrition expert has cautioned that consuming even a small amount of alcohol can elevate your blood pressure, increasing your chances of suffering heart attacks and strokes. She also pinpointed the exact number of drinks that could become dangerous for this reason.
It’s widely known that British people enjoy a drink. Data from Drink Aware reveals that 48 per cent of adults consume alcohol at least once weekly.
Although we might believe we’re not overdoing it, the NHS cautions that there’s “no completely safe level of drinking”. An expert has now disclosed that consuming more than three alcoholic beverages in a single session could prove dangerous.
In an article for the British Heart Foundation (BHF), qualified dietitian Tracy Parker elaborated on the connection between alcohol consumption and blood pressure. “High blood pressure (hypertension) is a major risk factor for heart and circulatory diseases,” she said.
“But, while risk factors for high blood pressure like eating too much salt, physical inactivity and obesity are well-known, the risk that comes from drinking too much alcohol is often overlooked.” She provided further insight into the quantity of alcohol required to impact blood pressure.
Tracy added: “Alcohol’s effect on blood pressure depends on how much and how often you drink. Alcohol can stop brain receptors that help regulate blood pressure from working properly.”
She cautioned that consuming more than three alcoholic beverages in one session can trigger a “temporary rise”. “This is because alcohol stimulates the nervous system, which increases the heart rate and narrows blood vessels, leading to a short-term rise in blood pressure,” she said.
However, she cautioned that consistently consuming more than four alcoholic beverages in one session can have a “lasting effect” on your wellbeing. She continued: “It can stop receptors in the brain that help regulate blood pressure from working properly, which stops your body from responding to changes in blood pressure and can lead long-term high blood pressure.
“This puts strain on your heart muscle and can damage blood vessel walls, which can lead to fatty material building up on blood vessel walls (atherosclerosis), which increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke.”
Tracy also addressed the notion that red wine is better for your health than other types of alcohol. “But too much of any type of alcohol will negatively affect your blood pressure,” she said.
Booze can also influence your blood pressure through its substantial calorie count, resulting in weight increase, which represents another contributing factor for high blood pressure.
Current NHS guidance advises consuming no more than 14 units of alcohol weekly. This amounts to six pints of beer or six small glasses of wine.
She also warned against excessive drinking – more than six units of alcohol in a brief period. Tracy continued: “It can cause significant spikes in blood pressure with repeated binge-drinking episodes leading to long-term increases in blood pressure.
“Sticking to these limits is especially important if you’re at risk of, or already have, high blood pressure. You may consider drinking less or no alcohol. Cutting back or quitting alcohol has been shown to lower blood pressure.”
Other methods to reduce your blood pressure include:
- Keeping physically active
- Consuming a balanced diet
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Steering clear of smoking
If you have any concerns about your blood pressure or your alcohol consumption, it’s advisable to consult with your GP.