Prevent Disease.com - Cutting Back on Booze May Lower Blood Pressure



		Cutting Back on Booze May Lower Blood Pressure NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People may be able to bring down their blood pressure by drinking less alcohol, according to a report in the November issue of Hypertension. Alcohol consumption carries an increased risk of high blood pressure, or hypertension, the researchers explain, but previous studies have not demonstrated conclusively whether reduced consumption results in a lowering of blood pressure. Dr. Jiang He from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana and colleagues analyzed 15 published studies to examine the effects of alcohol reduction on blood pressure. ``To our knowledge,'' the authors write, ``this is the first systematic overview of clinical trials that have investigated the effect of alcohol reduction on blood pressure.'' Alcohol consumption fell by 16% to 100% in the studies, with a median decrease of 76%, the authors report. Nine of the 15 trials showed significant drops in systolic blood pressure, which is the top number in a blood pressure reading. Average changes ranged from ``1.0 to 6.3 mm Hg,'' the report indicates. Diastolic blood pressure--the lower number--declined significantly in eight trials, the researchers note. All 15 trials showed at least a trend of declining systolic and diastolic blood pressure with reduced alcohol consumption, the investigators found. A pooled estimate of the effect of alcohol reduction showed that it reduced systolic blood pressure an average of 3.31 mm Hg and brought down diastolic blood pressure by 2.04 mm Hg. The greatest drop in blood pressure was seen among patients with the highest blood pressure before treatment and those who cut their alcohol consumption the most. ``In summary,'' the authors conclude, ``our findings indicate that a reduction in alcohol intake among heavy drinkers significantly reduces systolic and diastolic blood pressure.'' ``Our findings are mainly based on experience from men,'' He told Reuters Health. ``However, observational epidemiology studies have demonstrated a similar relationship between alcohol consumption and blood pressure in men and women. There is no reason to believe that there is any difference in the effects of alcohol reduction on blood pressure between male and female patients. ``Alcohol reduction should be considered as an important lifestyle modification approach for the prevention and treatment of hypertension among heavy alcohol drinkers,'' He concluded. SOURCE: Hypertension 2001;38:1112-1117. Reference Source 89 For more information on how to prevent other diseases, use PreventDisease.com's "Quick Prevention Resources".