Drinking raises blood pressure: Study rules out benefits of social drinking

NEW YORK (HealthDay News)—A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that any amount of alcohol can raise blood pressure, even in people who drink moderately.

“ Our study shows that when it comes to blood pressure, the less you drink, the better ,” said cardiologist Dr. Takahiro Suzuki of St. Luke’s International Hospital in Tokyo .

Suzuki's team analyzed more than 360,000 medical checkups performed between 2012 and 2024, dividing patients according to their alcohol consumption.

The results showed that cutting down or stopping drinking lowers blood pressure , while starting to drink raises it .

“ Small amounts of alcohol were previously thought to be safe, but our results suggest that no alcohol is best ,” the specialist added.

The beneficial effects were observed in both men and women.

Women who stopped consuming one or two drinks a day recorded average reductions of 0.8 mmHg in systolic blood pressure and 1.1 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure; men who stopped drinking achieved decreases of 1 mmHg and 1.6 mmHg, respectively.

In contrast, those who started drinking showed a significant increase in their levels.

The study also revealed that the type of beverage did not influence the results: beer, wine, or hard liquor produced the same effect.

" What matters is the amount of alcohol consumed, not the type ," the researchers emphasized. This finding contradicts the idea that red wine, for example, can be beneficial for the heart.

Dr. Harlan Krumholz of Yale University , who was not involved in the research, said the study provides strong evidence about the risks of alcohol consumption.

“ These findings suggest that stopping drinking, even at low levels, could prevent or treat hypertension ,” he said.

He also noted that the new clinical blood pressure targets are more stringent, so reducing alcohol consumption can make a significant difference in cardiovascular health.

Medical recommendation

Experts agree that any amount of alcohol can raise blood pressure, so they advise limiting or stopping alcohol consumption to prevent strokes and heart disease from developing in the short term.