Alcohol, hypertension, coronary disease and stroke.
1. The association between alcohol and hypertension has been recognized for several years. 2. However, it remains a paradox that if alcohol does cause hypertension there is little convincing evidence that alcohol is related to the cardiovascular complications of hypertension such as strokes and heart attacks. The relationship between alcohol and strokes remains inconclusive and there is evidence that moderate alcohol consumption may be protective against heart attacks. 3. It is possible, therefore, that alcohol does not so much cause hypertension, but rather a rapidly reversible rise in blood pressure which does not cause cardiovascular damage. When managing hypertensive patients, however, relevant counselling can bring about a useful fall in blood pressure.
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Department of Medicine, University of Birmingham City Hospital, UK.
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D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male
D000431:Ethanol