Alcohol Detox & Blood Pressure
People going through alcohol detoxification and withdrawal may experience a number of adverse side effects, including dangerous shifts in blood pressure. Once detox is completed, the patient should refrain from drinking to keep their blood pressure under control. If you want more information about alcohol detox and its side effects, be sure to talk to your doctor.
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What is Detox?
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Alcohol detox is the attempt to rid a heavy drinker or alcoholic's body of alcohol dependency. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, the detoxification process can involve in-patient or out-patient strategies, depending on the severity of the disease. Doctors may prescribe medication meant to ease the symptoms of the detox process, and they may provide counseling to help the patient with their urges. The detox process can last up to a week, and is only the first step in dealing with alcohol addiction.
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Symptoms of Withdrawal
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According to the National Institutes of Health, alcohol withdrawal can cause a number of side effects. When a drinker who is physically dependent on alcohol goes through detox, they might experience headaches, sweating, insomnia, an elevated heart rate, or tremors. More serious side effects can include seizures, visual hallucinations and blackouts.
Detox and Blood Pressure
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The Harvard University Patient Education Center points out that alcohol detox can cause rapid and unpredictable swings in blood pressure. These blood pressure changes can be serious, depending on the patient's level of alcohol dependence. Rapid rises in blood pressure associated with alcohol detox can put the patient at risk for a stroke or heart attack. If a heavy drinker is admitted to the hospital to undergo the detox process, his blood pressure will be closely monitored to prevent problems that can occur due to dramatic shifts.
Alcohol and Blood Pressure
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If you successfully complete an alcohol detox program, continuing to avoid alcohol will also help with your blood pressure. The American Academy of Family Physicians points out that you should limit your alcohol intake or avoid alcohol completely to prevent high blood pressure. Heavy drinking is associated with high blood pressure, and the Academy points out that men should limit themselves to two drinks a day, while women should only have one drink a day. If you successfully complete an alcohol detox program, continuing to avoid alcohol will also help with your blood pressure.
Discuss with a Medical Professional
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If you are considering a detox program, or are worried about your drinking habits, talk to a doctor. They will discuss alcohol's effect on your blood pressure and detail the side effects that you might experience during alcohol detox.
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