Alcohol and blood pressure

[Trethew]

Posting for friend I’m worried about. Mid 60s, slightly overweight and has high blood pressure. I think she drinks too much. From what I’ve seen it’s a good half bottle of wine every evening, but I think more. Says she has couple of nights off a week but ? She’s been told by gp to cut down but she says without drink she’s so stressed her bp will go up.

I can’t find anything on internet that explains simply the link between booze and bp, and gives figures. I think something with numbers would help her get a grip. She’s that sort of person.

It's a simple fact that alcohol contributes to high blood pressure, that's medically proven.
It's also known that heavier drinking can lead to atrial fibrillation, that combined with high bp can then lead to a stroke.
There's plenty of peer reviewed evidence on the net.

As you say - plenty of peer reviewed evidence on the net. I was hoping for something a little more tangible for the layman. Maybe along the lines of “reduce your food intake to 1,000 calories a day and you could lose 1.5 to 2 lbs a week”.

being overweight puts up your bp too

When I stopped drinking with first pregnancy, my blood pressure dropped quite a bit. Never drank the same way between and blood pressure is better with second pregnancy than the first. I definitely think there's a link.

You might find something on the British heart foundation or bloodpressureuk websites.

Tbh if I drank half a bottle of wine mist nights I'd not be impressed at expectations to cut down

coffee and tea can raise your blood pressure more so than alcohol

www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/

Relationship between alcohol & BP isn't that straightforward so there probably aren't reliable numbers (but long term it does contribute). Chronic high BP increases the risk of stroke/heart failure/kidney failure/blindness. The relationship between stress and BP is also not that straightforward.

If you friend is drinking half a bottle of wine a night 5 nights a week then she's getting through around 25 units a week - 11 more than the recommended max. She'll also be drinking around about 2000 calories a week. Most heavy drinkers underestimate/are in denial about how much they really drink.

Looking at the drinkaware website may be useful - lists all of the many ways in which alcohol really isn't very good for you.