Moderate Drinking Tied to Risk of Stage 1, 2 Hypertension

Moderate Drinking Tied to Risk of Stage 1, 2 Hypertension

Studies have established that heavy drinkers are more likely to have hypertension compared with non-drinkers, and now new research confirms the link to high blood pressure and extends the finding to those consuming moderate amounts of alcohol.

In a snapshot of a national sample of adult Americans, researchers found that compared to abstainers, men and women who drank 7 to 13 alcoholic drinks a week (moderate drinkers) were 1.5 times as likely to have stage 1 hypertension and twice as likely to have stage 2 hypertension, based on criteria in the new 2017 ACC/AHA hypertension guidelines.

Heavy drinkers (14 or more drinks per week) had a similar, slightly higher risk of having stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension vs abstainers.

The public health message is that people should ask their providers to check their blood pressure at each visit, especially if they are moderate or heavy drinkers.

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