Lay off alcohol is one of the first things people with newly diagnosed high blood pressure are told.

Alcohol can cause high blood pressure as well as contribute to it. Abstinence, though, might not be necessary, and may even deny some folks a pleasurable way to ward off heart attacks.

A long-term study of male health professionals suggests that responsible, moderate drinking may benefit people with high blood pressure.

In a study published in the January 2, 2007, Annals of Internal Medicine, only 4.9% of the men with high blood pressure who classified themselves as moderate drinkers (one or two drinks a day) had a heart attack during 16 years of follow-up, compared with 6.7% of nondrinkers.

That’s about a 25% reduction in heart attack risk. The results are similar to a study of male doctors, which showed fewer deaths due to cardiovascular disease among moderate drinkers than nondrinkers over a five-year period.

Keep in mind that this work shows the average response to alcohol. How it affects you depends on your genes, metabolism, diet, and medications, as well as you and your family’s relationship with alcohol.

A drink a day won’t help your blood pressure. (If you are concerned about it, use a home blood pressure monitor that’s been checked at your doctor’s office to make sure it is accurate.)

But along with a healthful lifestyle, moderate drinking could protect you from one of its feared effects — a heart attack.

Additional tips for keeping your high blood pressure in check

Take your blood pressure medication as prescribed. If you experience side effects, talk to your doctor.

Try to maintain a healthy weight.

Increase your physical activity. Do at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity, such as walking, on most days. You can split the session into three 10-minute segments during the day.

Eat foods low in sodium.

Read nutrition labels to determine how much sodium is in packaged foods.

Eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and choose low-fat dairy foods.

Include foods rich in potassium and calcium in your diet.

If you consume alcohol, do so moderately.

If you smoke, quit.

Reduce your stress.

Tell your family and friends you have high blood pressure, especially the person who prepares the meals.

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
 
For more information on the use of alcohol and its implications, order our Special Health Report, Alcohol Use and Abuse, at www.health.harvard.edu/AUA

Article source: HEALTHbeat / Harvard Medical School