What Happens to Your Heart When You Drink a Glass of Wine

The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance providers and the Association’s overall financial information are available here. If you currently have high blood pressure, a doctor may recommend reducing your alcohol intake or avoiding alcohol altogether. You should talk with a doctor about alcohol consumption, especially if you have other health conditions, such as diabetes. A high dose of alcohol typically raises your blood pressure for about 24 hours after you drink it. High triglyceride levels in the blood stream have been linked to atherosclerosis and, by extension, increased risk of CHD and stroke. Talk to your doctor honestly about your drinking, even if it’s an uncomfortable topic. Several studies reported increased sympathetic nervous system activation and discharge of sympathetic amines after alcohol consumption43,48,49. Sign up to our fortnightly Heart Matters newsletter to receive healthy recipes, new activity ideas, and expert tips for managing your health. Factors such as age, mental health, existing medical conditions and drug use can affect the impact of alcohol on an individual. But beneath the surface of this seemingly harmless indulgence lies a complex interplay between alcohol and our cardiovascular system. Does alcohol raise blood pressure? This is especially concerning for medications like vasodilators and alpha-blockers, which can cause orthostatic hypotension – a condition where blood...

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