You pour a drink to unwind; just one, maybe two. It feels harmless, even routine. But over time, your doctor notices your blood pressure creeping up. Your heart’s working harder, your energy dips, and the headaches come more often.
The connection isn’t obvious — until you trace it back to the glass in your hand.
If you’re wondering whether alcohol abuse can cause high blood pressure, we have answers. Learn the correlation between alcohol and high blood pressure and how seeking professional recovery can help.
Can Drinking Alcohol Cause High Blood Pressure?
Alcohol consumption is a common part of many social and cultural practices, but it can have important health implications, in particular when it comes to blood pressure. Research has shown that drinking alcohol can contribute to the development of high blood pressure (hypertension), a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
This can happen both directly — through the effects alcohol has on the body’s systems that regulate blood pressure — and indirectly, by contributing to weight gain.
Since excess body weight is also a known contributor to high blood pressure, the relationship between alcohol, weight, and blood pressure is closely connected. Understanding how these factors interact is an important step toward making healthier choices and managing cardiovascular risk.
When alcohol is consumed, it stimulates the nervous system and affects hormones that control blood vessel function, leading to the constriction of blood vessels and a rise in blood pressure. Over time, this sustained elevation can damage arteries and organs, increasing the risk of serious conditions like stroke, chronic kidney disease, heart disease, and vascular dementia.
Ray Recovery offers personalized support to help you reduce or quit alcohol, protecting your long-term health and lowering your risk of serious conditions like hypertension, heart disease, and stroke.
Can alcoholism cause high blood pressure? Don’t wait to find out. Take the first step toward a healthier future. Reach out to Ray Recovery in Akron, OH, today and start your journey to lasting wellness.
Can Alcohol Cause Low Blood Pressure?
Alcohol can cause a temporary drop in blood pressure, especially in light to moderate drinkers, because it initially dilates blood vessels and relaxes the circulatory system. However, this effect is short-lived; as the body processes the alcohol, it can lead to a rebound increase in blood pressure due to activation of stress hormones and tightening of blood vessels. So while alcohol may briefly lower blood pressure, it often results in an overall rise, especially with regular use.
Alcohol is also often associated with dehydration and skipped meals, both of which can lead to a temporary lowering of blood pressure.
5 Ways Alcohol Affects Blood Pressure
#1: Increases Sympathetic Nervous System Activity
Alcohol consumption can activate the sympathetic nervous system, leading to increased blood pressure. A study published in the Journal of Hypertension found that oral alcohol intake (0.75 g/kg body weight) significantly increased muscle sympathetic nerve activity, heart rate, and mean blood pressure in people with normal blood pressure. This suggests that alcohol-induced sympathetic activation contributes to elevated blood pressure.
#2: Disrupts the Body’s Electrolyte Balance
Chronic alcohol overconsumption leads to water and salt retention, expansion of extracellular volume, and depletion of electrolytes like magnesium, phosphate, and calcium. When the body holds onto extra water, it increases blood volume and, in turn, raises pressure on artery walls. These disturbances can impair kidney function and disrupt fluid and electrolyte homeostasis, contributing to increased blood pressure over time.
Thankfully, alcohol treatment and rehab can help reverse many of the health effects caused by alcohol abuse, giving your body and mind a chance to heal.
#3: Stresses the Heart
Long-term heavy alcohol use puts significant stress on the heart by weakening its muscle, a condition known as alcoholic cardiomyopathy. As the heart becomes less efficient at pumping blood, it has to work harder to maintain circulation, which can worsen high blood pressure and increase the risk of heart failure and other cardiovascular complications.
A study published in the American Journal of Cardiology found that alcoholics with hypertension exhibited more abnormal cardiac function than those without high blood pressure, even after alcohol withdrawal. The study observed that hypertensive alcoholics had increased left ventricular stress and hyperdynamic left ventricular features, which may precede heart failure.
#4: Changes in Hormones
Alcohol stimulates the adrenal glands to release higher levels of cortisol — the body’s main stress hormone — which is associated with increased blood pressure. Elevated cortisol can also affect how the kidneys manage fluid and salt balance, leading to fluid retention that raises blood volume and contributes to hypertension. Together, these hormonal changes from alcohol use can disrupt the body’s blood pressure regulation and increase the risk of developing high blood pressure.
#5: Creates a Dose-Dependent Relationship
Scientific studies confirm a linear correlation between excessive alcohol consumption and increased risk of hypertension. A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis published in 2024 analyzed 23 cohort studies and found a positive and nearly linear association between alcohol intake and hypertension risk.
For instance, the risk ratios for hypertension were 1.11, 1.22, and 1.33 at 24, 36, and 48 grams of alcohol per day, respectively, using 12 grams per day as the reference value. The study concluded that increasing alcohol consumption is positively associated with the risk of new-onset hypertension, supporting recommendations to limit alcohol intake to improve cardiovascular health.
Risk Factors for High Blood Pressure From Alcohol
Alcohol consumption can contribute to high blood pressure through several pathways, especially when intake is excessive or chronic.
Below is a list of key risk factors linked to alcohol use that may elevate blood pressure:
- Increased sympathetic nervous system activity
- Hormonal disruption (e.g., elevated cortisol)
- Impaired kidney function and fluid regulation
- Electrolyte imbalances
- Weight gain and increased body fat
- Increased blood vessel constriction
- Development of alcoholic cardiomyopathy
- Poor sleep quality and sleep apnea
- Interaction with medications (e.g., blood pressure drugs)
- Dehydration and rebound hypertension after initial vasodilation
Is High Blood Pressure Due to Alcohol Reversible?
Yes, high blood pressure caused by alcohol is often reversible, especially if identified early. Reducing or eliminating alcohol intake can lead to significant improvements in blood pressure levels over time, along with other healthy lifestyle changes like improved diet, exercise, and stress management.
If you’re ready to cut back or quit drinking, Ray Recovery is here to help. Get personalized, judgment-free support to take control of your health one step at a time.
Seek Alcohol Abuse Rehab to Help Lower Alcohol-Induced Blood Pressure With Ray Recovery
When alcohol starts impacting your health, especially your blood pressure, it’s a sign to take action. Ray Recovery, conveniently located in Akron, OH, is here to help you make a change that lasts, with real support and no judgment.
All of our treatment programs include core recovery services such as individual and group counseling, stress management and coping skills education, relapse prevention training, and access to addiction recovery resources. Our Intensive Outpatient Program is designed for individuals who don’t need residential care but still benefit from more support than traditional outpatient therapy. For those who need greater structure, our Partial Hospitalization Program offers full-day treatment with increased clinical support. We also offer dedicated rehab programs for both men and women, addressing gender-specific needs in recovery.
You don’t have to do this alone. Reach out today and take back control.
The content in this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
