I am slightly hypertensive and currently on anti-hypertensive medications. I want to know if I can still continue taking alcohol or I should stop
Chike (by SMS)
We’ve known for a long time that alcohol can raise blood pressure, but the new guidance from the American Heart Association is even clearer: The healthiest choice for your blood pressure is no alcohol at all. If you do drink, keep it to no more than one drink a day for women and no more than two for men – and less is always better.
Research cited in the recommendations strongly indicates that even moderate drinking can nudge your blood pressure up over time. The good news is that your body responds pretty quickly when you cut back. I have seen patients lower their blood pressure within weeks by reducing alcohol to just half of what they were drinking previously. The recommendations present this all as part of a “package deal”.
When you reduce your alcohol intake alongside maintaining a healthy weight, making heart-healthy food choices, incorporating moderate exercise and managing your stress, your risks of hypertension and cardiovascular disease greatly decrease.