does alcohol REALLY increase BP?

[makkapakka]

Hello, I had a BP check yesterday and it was high, so the nurse wants to do it again in a month (140/90). I have just been on a two-week holiday and have drunk every night and quite a lot for those two weeks Could that have raised my BP?

I understand that alcohol can raise blood pressure and in some people it can raise it a lot, especially heavy drinking but less amounts can in some people too.

I wonder if it could have raised mine above the normal parameters, Zippi... Am on the wagon till next BP test, but it has worried me if something like drinking too much on holiday/Christmas etc can raise it so much...

It really does! If I have been on the lash, my heart is RACING!! My face goes all red and I look like an old lush. That is after one glass of lambrusco.

I'm such a lightweight......

ha ha, Spudmasher - but feeling your heart race is your heart rate, different from BP, isn't it?

It doesn't increase my blood pressure, but it does cause my heart to race and for me to have palpatations - as does caffine and chocolate! I have cut a lot of caffine out of my diet, but as for wine and chocolate....

just hope it is the alcohol, as really don't want to go on medication for high BP

anyone else? should I abstain from booze all the time?

palpitations caused by alcohol caffeine etc are much different to high BP, im sure. Had too much chardonnay to make too much sense hic. But 140/90 isnt THAT high, ok its not low, its above average but it could be white coat syndrome, some people get high bp as soon as they set foot in the health centre etc. Its like having a test we must pass etc, or we have rushed to get there, did the nurse suggest you take one ten minutes later if you had rushed there etc, then you just have to sit there and think nice thought. Hope you had a good holiday

I did have a lovely hol, thanks!

I do get really nervous when having BP taken but doctor once said the lower figure couldn't be raised by stress???

link for you here