The effect of wine on high blood pressure
Drinking wine does not lower blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Despite red wine's purported heart benefits, drinking alcohol in excess contributes to raising blood pressure. Does this Spark an idea?
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High Blood Pressure
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High blood pressure (hypertension) occurs when blood pumps through the body at a forceful rate, causing excess pressure on arterial walls. Stage one hypertension occurs with a blood pressure reading of 140 to 159 (systolic) or 90 to 99 (diastolic), according to the AHA.
How Blood Pressure is Measured
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Medical professionals measure blood pressure in fraction format: systolic (the body pumping blood out of the heart) over diastolic (the heart resting between heartbeats). The medical professional slips a cuff onto a patient's upper arm and inflates it. The AHA says a healthy blood pressure reading for an adult is less than 120 systolic and less than 80 diastolic.
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Alcohol Consumption
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Limit alcohol intake to avoid raising blood pressure levels. The AHA recommends men to limit their alcohol consumption--even wine--to no more than two drinks a day and women to only one drink a day in order to avoid raising blood pressure levels. One drink equals a 12-ounce beer, a five-ounce glass of wine, 1 1/2 ounces of 80-proof liquor or one ounce of hard liquor (100 proof).
Speculations About Red Wine
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Some say red wine has heart-health benefits. Some medical researchers believe wine (red in particular) has heart-health benefits from flavonoids and other antioxidants. Conversely, some argue that foods such as grapes and red grape juice have the same components.
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
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The Mayo Clinic notes that many people with high blood pressure don't have symptoms, earning this illness the nickname "silent killer." The Mayo Clinic says some people with high blood pressure may experience headaches, dizzy spells or a few more nosebleeds than normal--but that "these signs and symptoms typically don't occur until high blood pressure has reached an advanced stage."
Prevention
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WebMD lists five ways to help prevent high blood pressure: maintain a healthy weight; get regular exercise; reduce your salt intake; drink alcohol in moderation, if at all; and reduce stress. The AHA recommends that to reduce your risk you should talk to your doctor about lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure. There is no scientific proof that drinking wine or any other alcoholic beverage can replace these conventional measures.
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