What is the usual BP reaction to alcohol? - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

Uff-Da! · 09-12-2005, 07:18 AM

My usual before dinner drink is a margarita, and I normally limit myself to one drink and eat some nuts or something with it. Though I haven't specifically checked on how much that affected my BP, looking back at my records, it appears that it raised my BP no more than five or ten points systolic. I even see one notation where I said "sipping a margarita" and my BP was 104/64. About an hour later, my BP was 115/65. Obviously nothing to worry about. So imagine my surprise last night when I had a Scotch and water and discovered later that my BP was 162/74! That is 36 points systolic higher than my BP had been shortly before I had the drink. From just ONE drink! There was nothing else (stress or whatever) that happened in the meantime to influence my BP reading.

I'm one of those people whose BP normally goes down ten to twenty points after eating. From what I've read yesterday, apparently much of that reaction is to glucose, and I suppose the Triple Sec in the margarita provides that and keeps my BP down when I have that.

But what a shock to see the results of the Scotch and water! It made me wonder what is "normal" BP reaction to just one drink. Anyone willing to share your experiences?

GEORGEP · 09-12-2005, 08:03 AM

My Doctor told me that alcohol is a vasodillator and lowers blood pressure. Binge drinking is bad because while you are drinking your blood pressure is lower but there is a rebound effect and the next day your blood pressure rises... I drink Red wine, no more than a couple of 5 ounce glasses at one sitting and I have checked my BP after and it is lower from the alcohol. The nurse at my doctors office said that if you are going to drink alcohol that red wine is the best choice and to stay away from hard liquor... I am a moderate drinker and I also take Diovan and I have not noticed any ill effects from drinking a couple of glasses of wine every other day or so...

redherring · 09-12-2005, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uff-Da!

My usual before dinner drink is a margarita, and I normally limit myself to one drink and eat some nuts or something with it. Though I haven't specifically checked on how much that affected my BP, looking back at my records, it appears that it raised my BP no more than five or ten points systolic. I even see one notation where I said "sipping a margarita" and my BP was 104/64. About an hour later, my BP was 115/65. Obviously nothing to worry about. So imagine my surprise last night when I had a Scotch and water and discovered later that my BP was 162/74! That is 36 points systolic higher than my BP had been shortly before I had the drink. From just ONE drink! There was nothing else (stress or whatever) that happened in the meantime to influence my BP reading.

I'm one of those people whose BP normally goes down ten to twenty points after eating. From what I've read yesterday, apparently much of that reaction is to glucose, and I suppose the Triple Sec in the margarita provides that and keeps my BP down when I have that.

But what a shock to see the results of the Scotch and water! It made me wonder what is "normal" BP reaction to just one drink. Anyone willing to share your experiences?

When I drink Chardonnay, it spikes my blood pressure a bit.

las7715 · 09-12-2005, 02:43 PM

I've heard it is the sulfites in wine that raises BP and it's hard to find wine that doesn't contain them.

Uff-Da! · 09-26-2005, 09:38 PM

In the interest of research

I tried the Scotch and water again tonight. Unfortunately, I didn't take my BP just before I had the drink, but mid-afternoon, my BP was 126/64. After the drink, I took three readings: 157/81, 167/85, 166/78. Looking back over my records, I don't see any time that my SBP was 140 or higher from a margarita, and usually somewhere between 114 and 130. It is amazing to me that there is such a major difference in the effects of different drinks. Guess Scotch and water is not the drink for me!