April 3, 2019&mdash;Drinking alcohol even in moderation could potentially harm the heart by contributing to high blood pressure, a new study suggests. 

Researchers looked at data on thousands of adults who were part of an ongoing health survey led by the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.netreturns.biz/healthinfo/bouncelink.aspx?shortcut=cdc">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>. The study participants answered questions about their drinking habits and had their blood pressure recorded throughout the study. Moderate drinking was defined as having 7 to 13 alcoholic drinks per week. 

Compared to non-drinkers:
<ul>
 <li>Moderate drinkers were 53 percent more likely to have stage 1 high blood pressure. That means the top number in a blood pressure reading ranges from 130 to 139 mm Hg or the bottom number is between 80 and 89 mm Hg.</li>
 <li>Moderate drinkers were also twice as likely to have stage 2 high blood pressure (a more severe blood pressure level for which doctors often prescribe medicines).</li>
 <li>Heavy drinkers were 69 percent more likely to have stage 1 high blood pressure and 2.4 times more likely to have stage 2. </li>
 <li>The average blood pressure was about 128/79 mm Hg for moderate drinkers. A normal blood pressure reading is less than 120/80 mm Hg.</li>
</ul>

Moderate drinking in the spotlight 

The study suggests that even moderate alcohol use is not safe when it comes to blood pressure. If other studies confirm these findings, the current research would represent a departure from previous studies. Some have linked moderate drinking to a reduced risk of some forms of heart disease. 

Alcohol may raise blood pressure in a number of ways, the research team noted. For one, it's high in calories, so drinking might contribute to excess weight, which is a risk factor for high blood pressure. Or alcohol could directly contribute to blood pressure spikes, the researchers noted.

The research was presented at the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.netreturns.biz/healthinfo/bouncelink.aspx?shortcut=cardiology">American College of Cardiology's</a> 68th Annual Scientific Session.

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Even moderate drinking may raise blood pressure