Untreated blood pressure can lead to a risk of heart attack and stroke. Alcoholic beverages are loaded with calories, sugar, and salt, which can cause obesity and weight gain over time. That is one contributing factor to hypertension, commonly referred to as high blood pressure. The American Heart Association says that quitting alcohol helps keep your blood pressure numbers where they need to be.
High Heart Rate
Alcohol sometimes leads to “holiday heart syndrome” where you produce irregular heartbeats in the 24 to 48 hours after you drink. This syndrome was noticed after many people would end up in the emergency room after New Year’s Eve because of drinking an excessive amount of alcohol. The American Heart Association says that having irregular heartbeats increases your chances of suffering a stroke fivefold. So when your heart skips a beat, it can mean that there is something off with your blood pressure and that excessive alcohol consumption might be a contributing factor.
Binge Drinking and Blood Pressure
The more alcohol you drink, the greater the chance you’ll have high blood pressure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that two out of three adult drinkers consume more than moderate amounts of alcohol at least once a month. Thirty-two studies in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews found that drinking two or more standard drinks can decrease your blood pressure for up to 12 hours. After that, blood pressure starts to rise. Regular drinking can permanently affect your heart rate and impair your baroreceptor, making your high blood pressure permanent.
Managing Your Blood Pressure
When your blood pressure is impacted by alcohol, it should be your mission to get those numbers back to normal again. A blood pressure of 120/80mm Hg is considered normal. One way to get these numbers is by developing healthier eating habits like eating less red meat and less added sugar. The American Heart Association says that adding 150 minutes of moderate aerobic physical activity a week can make a difference. Stop smoking and continue to take prescribed medication to lower your blood pressure. If your high blood pressure is from excessive drinking, now is the time to check into treatment to avoid further heart complications. We are only granted one body and only we can take care of it. Going into treatment for alcoholism will not reverse the damage to your heart but will improve your quality of life going forward.
One reason that people get high blood pressure is excessive alcohol drinking. If your blood pressure is not taken care of, this can lead to your blood pressure spike being permanent. At Alta Loma, we understand how hard it may feel to stop drinking despite the health obstacles that may come your way. We can teach you how to take care of your body using healthier methods. Located in Georgetown, Texas, we can offer you 12-step programs, recreational therapeutic activities, life and coping skills education, and more. Please call us at (866) 457-3843 to learn more.
