October 6, 2006

Alcohol And High Blood Pressure: Moderation (Hypertension) Is Key

Drinking alcohol can be fun, especially when you get together with your friends on a weekend night. It s a great way to wind down and have a great time while laughing and joking with the ones you care about. However, if you have high blood pressure and drink alcohol, your doctor may not be too happy with you. If you do in fact have high blood pressure, you should ask your doctor if you can drink alcohol. Likely, your doctor will say it s not a good idea. However, your doctor also understands that you re probably not going to refrain from alcohol forever so, it s also likely that your doctor will tell you to drink only in moderation.

Drinking alcohol when you have high blood pressure becomes a serious issue when you are prescribed medication for your problem. Alcohol does not mix with many medications and, for this issue, you seriously want to ask your doctor if drinking alcohol will be detrimental to your health. If your doctor determines that alcohol and high blood pressure medication don t mix, listen to your doctor. Don t jeopardize your health just for one or two cold ones. It s definitely not worth it.

There are some studies that say that alcohol and high blood pressure can actually have positive effects on your health. That s not to say that you should go out and start binge drinking. However, one or two drinks in the course of a week have actually shown to have positive effects on lowering your blood pressure. Maybe it s because of the relaxing factor as stress can have drastic effects on blood pressure.

When it comes to alcohol and high blood pressure, however, always ask your doctor what you should and shouldn t do. Don t take your health into your own hands. They don t call high blood pressure the silent killer for nothing. If you have high blood pressure and you want to drink alcohol, do it in moderation only. Only then can you hope to lead a long, healthy life.

Always Drink Responsibly

So, the next time you go out with your friends and they offer to buy you a drink, think about the effects of alcohol and high blood pressure. Sure, you may have a great time but it s not really worth it if you re not around long enough to enjoy more of those good times. Take care of yourself and, if you must drink, do it responsibly.

High Blood Pressure for Dummies

High Blood Pressure for Dummies Just been diagnosed with high blood pressure? Don’t fret you’re not alone. In fact, you’re a member of a club that includes an estimated one-quarter of the world’s population! But just because it’s common doesn’t mean you should treat it lightly. People with high blood pressure are at significantly greater risk for stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and blindness. There’s a reason why it’s often referred to as “the silent killer”—most people never experience any symptoms… until it’s too late. Now for some good news: tons of money has been pouring into high blood pressure research over the last couple of decades, and nowadays it is a very manageable condition.

If you think you may be at risk for high blood pressure, or already know that you’ve got it and are looking for the best way to manage it, this book is for you. Written by bestselling health author Dr. Alan Rubin, it clues you in on everything you need to:

Find out if you have high blood pressure or if you’re at risk
Determine what type you have and how serious it is
Understand what causes it
Know how it affects your body’s organs
Work with a doctor to get your pressure down
Take charge of your health and add years to your life

In plain English, Dr. Rubin explains the role of genetics, sex, age, and ethnicity in high blood pressure. He explores lifestyle factors that contribute to high blood pressure. And he offers:

Expert advice on various blood pressure medications, their effectiveness, side affects, and alternatives
Nutritional guidelines for managing high blood pressure, including the AMA’s DASH diet
Tips on how to lose weight, quit smoking, and make other key lifestyle changes guaranteed to get your pressure under control
Guidance on how to design a blood-pressure-lowering exercise program that you can stick with
The inside track on alternative treatments, including yoga, meditation, hypnosis, biofeedback, and more

Packed with basic strategies for managing high blood pressure, High Blood Pressure For Dummies will set you on the path to a long and healthy life.
Customer Review: JNC VII
Whether a clinician or just someone who wants to learn more about the latest treatments for high blood pressure, if you buy a book about hypertension, make sure it incorporates that latest guidelines — JNC VII (2003). Diagnosis and treatment guidelines changed substantially. I have a copy of this book and like it quite a bit but as far as I know, it has not been updated to include JNC VII recommendations.