We did not identify enough studies to construct a funnel plot for the outcomes under low doses of alcohol. We interpreted only funnel plots that were constructed based on studies reporting outcomes under medium dose and high dose of alcohol versus placebo comparisons. Both reviewers (ST and CT) rated the certainty of evidence independently by examining risk of bias, indirectness, inconsistency, imprecision, and publication bias. Both review authors (ST and CT) rated the certainty of evidence independently by examining risk of bias, indirectness, inconsistency, imprecision, and publication bias. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing effects of a single dose of alcohol versus placebo on blood pressure (BP) or heart rate (HR) in adults (≥ 18 years of age). To ensure you reap the health benefits of whiskey, be sure to drink in moderation.
Ziauddeen 2013 published data only
Refer to Characteristics of included studies and Table 4 for further details regarding these studies. CUnclear risk of selection bias and attrition bias in more than one study. AUnclear risk of selection bias and attrition bias in more than one study. According to a 2020 literature review, clinicians are not completely sure why alcohol raises blood pressure. It’s important to note that some studies examined only looked at small numbers of females compared to males. As a result, further research is necessary to confirm the effects on all people.
- Alcohol prevents the body’s baroreceptors from detecting a need to stretch the blood vessels and increase their diameter, causing an increase in blood pressure.
- Personnel were blinded instead of participants in Karatzi 2013, and neither personnel nor participants were blinded in Agewall 2000, so we assessed these studies as having high risk of bias.
- Anton emphasizes that exercise doesn’t necessarily have a direct effect on how alcohol is metabolized, so it shouldn’t be an excuse to start drinking.
- This increases the sensitivity of the blood vessels to compounds that constrict them.
- The same amount of alcohol for someone with high blood pressure varies based on factors like individual health status, age, weight, fitness level, and more, according to Louis Morledge, MD, a board-certified internist at Northwell Health.
Accordingly, we considered up to 14 g of alcohol as a low dose of alcohol. Thus, in our review, we used up to 30 g alcohol intake for men and up to 20 g alcohol intake for women as a moderate dose, and above this limit as a high dose. In studies where sex‐specific results were not provided, we categorised dose based on the dominating sex in terms of study participation.
Considering the difficulty of masking in these types of studies, we decided to also include single‐blind and open‐label studies in the review. We created three SoF tables to show the certainty of evidence and the summary of effects on outcomes of interest (SBP, DBP, and HR) for high (Table 1), medium (Table 2), and low doses (Table 3) of alcohol. Chen 1986 reported that two participants in the alcohol group dropped out of the study for unknown reasons, so data analyses were based on eight participants in the alcohol group and on 10 participants in the control group. Because the reasons behind withdrawal were not mentioned in this study, we considered this study to have high risk of bias. This may be due to alcohol affecting the chemicals in the body that control blood vessel constriction and fluid levels. Some people may be able to continue to drink alcohol in low amounts if they have high blood pressure.
The evidence synthesised in this review was collected from 32 RCTs in 767 participants. Of the 32 studies, two studied low‐dose alcohol, 12 studied medium‐dose alcohol, and 19 studied high‐dose alcohol. The sample size in the meta‐analysis for low‐dose comparison was not adequate to assess the effects of low doses of alcohol on BP and HR; however, we believe that the direction of the change in BP and HR was correct. For medium doses and high doses of alcohol, participants represented a range in terms of age, sex, and health condition. Because the participant population comprised predominantly young and healthy normotensive men, the overall evidence generated in this review cannot be extrapolated to women and older populations with other comorbidities.
Study authors mentioned that acute ethanol administration caused transitory increase in BP at 20 minutes. Rossinen 1997 measured blood pressure but selectively reported only SBP instead of reporting both SBP and DBP. Karatzi 2013Maufrais 2017 and Van De Borne 1997 measured blood pressure before and after treatment but did not report these measurements. The amount of alcohol required to affect blood pressure can vary from person to person. Factors such as age, overall health, genetics, and individual tolerance levels all play a role. However, it’s important to note that even moderate alcohol consumption can have an impact on blood pressure.
Most of the included studies did not report the standard error (SE)/standard deviation (SD) of the mean difference (MD) for the outcomes of interest. As described in our protocol, when we were unable to obtain the required SE/SD from study authors or by calculation from the reported P value or 95% CI, we imputed data according to the pre‐specified imputation hierarchy. We most often used the reported endpoint SE/SD value to impute the SE/SD of MD. This is known to provide a good approximation of the SD of change in BP so is unlikely to lead to bias.
- Researchers have pointed out that the potential benefits of wine consumption on heart health may result from other lifestyle factors that are common among people who drink wine, such as their dietary habits or physical activity levels.
- Research shows that any amount of alcohol can cause problems with a baby’s growth during pregnancy.
- The Cochrane Hypertension Information Specialist searched the following databases without language, publication year, or publication status restrictions.
- “This complex interplay leads to elevated blood pressure and subsequent hypertension,” Ramnauth said.
- This can lead to lower blood pressure levels and a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke.
- Studies show excessive alcohol consumption can increase your cancer risk, especially for cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon, pancreas, and breast.
Safer Ways to Drink
“The best ways to maintain good health and lower blood pressure is by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and maintaining a good diet that is low in salt and predominantly made up of unprocessed foods,” Amin said. Alcohol also stimulates the release of adrenaline and puts the body in a fight-or-flight mode, leading to elevated blood pressure. By contrast, another 2023 study found similar rates of death between nondrinkers and light to moderate drinkers.
Summary of findings 3. Effect of low‐dose alcohol compared to placebo.
In this interview, NewsMedical speaks with Esther Kieserman and Arvonn Tully from Yokogawa Life Science about how confocal-based high-content imaging is advancing core facility research and improving data reliability. Dr. Liji Thomas is an OB-GYN, who graduated from the Government Medical College, University of Calicut, Kerala, in 2001. Liji practiced as a full-time consultant in obstetrics/gynecology in a private hospital for a few years following her graduation. She has counseled hundreds of patients facing issues from pregnancy-related problems and infertility, and has been in charge of over 2,000 deliveries, striving always to achieve a normal delivery rather than operative. If a person has concerns that they or someone they know might have a dependency on alcohol, they should seek professional advice and support as soon as they can.
The answer to this important question has varied over time, but current US guidelines recommend that men who drink should limit intake to two drinks/day or less and women who drink should have no more than one drink/day. The definitions for a drink in the US are the common serving sizes for beer (12 ounces), wine (5 ounces), or distilled spirits/hard liquor (1.5 ounces). For millions of people, it’s a regular part of the dining experience, social and sports events, celebrations, and milestones.
- The evidence synthesised in this review was collected from 32 RCTs in 767 participants.
- Previous studies reported that women are affected more than men after drinking the same amount of alcohol because of their lower body weight and higher body fat.
- We conducted a standard Chi² test through Review Manager Software 5.3 to test for heterogeneity (Review Manager (RevMan)).
- If you are concerned about your alcohol consumption in any way, speak to your doctor or healthcare professional.
- Remember, only moderate whiskey consumption can have a positive benefit on your health—drinking too much can be damaging to your overall wellbeing.
- Abstinence is also important for people who are pregnant, take medications that interact with alcohol or have certain genetic conditions.
Characteristics of studies
Medium‐dose alcohol decreased systolic blood pressure (SBP) by 5.6 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) by 4 mmHg within the first six hours of consumption. Whiskey has been consumed for centuries, and has a long-standing reputation as a way to reduce stress and relax the body. This is due to its main ingredient – alcohol – known to reduce blood pressure and relax muscles. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and The Dietary Guidelines both recommend no more than four drinks per day for men, and no more than three drinks per day for women. Consuming more than this can not only lead to serious physical and mental health issues, but can also put you at higher risk of long-term medical problems, such as heart disease, stroke, liver damage, and blood pressure issues.
The plant-based antioxidants in whiskey may help maintain a healthy chemical balance in your brain. Research shows small amounts of whiskey — especially aged varieties — increases our activity in the brain’s GABA neurotransmitter, responsible for things like nervous system function and memory. If you currently have high blood pressure, a doctor may recommend reducing your alcohol intake or avoiding alcohol altogether. It may affect the level of the medicine in the body or cause more side effects. There is also a study that shows how moderate drinking can reduce the development of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
At the same time, some studies suggest that stopping or reducing alcohol intake produces better outcomes for those with high blood pressure or CVD. Alcohol withdrawal reverses the adverse impact of alcohol on endothelial function, with rapid normalization of the BP. Some studies suggest low amounts of alcohol may help reduce blood pressure or risk of heart disease. However, the CDC states these findings may be due to other lifestyle differences between people who drink moderately and those who do https://thecinnamonhollow.com/a-guide-to-sober-house-rules-what-you-need-to-know/ not. Researchers have pointed out that the potential benefits of wine consumption on heart health may result from other lifestyle factors that are common among people who drink wine, such as their dietary habits or physical activity levels. While additional studies are needed, researchers do not recommend drinking wine or other forms of alcohol to promote heart health.
Bad cholesterol and triglycerides can clog your arteries, while good cholesterol helps to keep them clear. If you drink large amounts of alcohol daily, consider talking with a healthcare professional about how to taper off your alcohol intake to prevent symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. For men, drinking about two standard drinks can increase blood pressure in the short term. For women, the number of drinks necessary to produce this effect may be lower. You should talk with a doctor about alcohol consumption, especially if you have other health conditions, such as diabetes.
Berg 2005 published data only
Staying hydrated is crucial for overall health, A Guide To Sober House Rules: What You Need To Know including maintaining proper blood pressure levels. Additionally, herbal teas and beverages low in added sugars can be good choices. Its alcohol content ranges from 40 to 184-proof, and any health benefits of this liquor are limited to moderate drinking.
