Understanding Blood Pressure Levels
Research participants provided details about their drinking habits via a questionnaire that was part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
The study defined moderate drinkers as those having 7 to 13 drinks per week, while heavy drinkers downed 14 or more drinks on a weekly basis.
Investigators measured blood pressure during in-home interviews and at a mobile examination center. Pressure is gauged in millimeters of mercury, or mmHg. The top number represents how much pressure is pushing against artery walls as the heart beats, and the bottom number represents pressure when the heart rests between beats. Readings were categorized according to American Heart Association standards.
Based on their findings, study authors determined that the likelihood of having elevated high blood pressure was on average 19 percent greater among moderate drinkers and 44 percent higher for the heavy drinkers compared with those who never drank.
Compared with the never-drinkers, moderate drinkers had 53 percent higher odds of having stage 1 hypertension and 100 percent greater odds for stage 2 hypertension.
Risks were higher for heavy drinkers they faced a 69 percent greater chance of developing stage 1 hypertension and 140 percent greater chance for stage 2 hypertension compared with those who totally avoid alcohol.
Red Wine And Blood Pressure
Red wine contains an antioxidant called resveratrol, which some studies have shown reduces cholesterol and lowers blood pressure.
Older studies had shown potential benefits of moderate drinking of red wine, but more recently it has been proven that no level of alcohol consumption is considered safe, or can reduce the risk of hypertension.
Myth: Red Wine Lowers Cholesterol
Fact: Keeping your cholesterol within a healthy range is important if you want to reduce your risk of heart disease.
According to a study published in Clinical Nutrition, red wine increases good cholesterol. On the flip side, nonalcoholic red wine decreases levels of bad cholesterol. LDL levels stayed the same in people who drank the alcoholic red wine, so keep this in mind when you order a glass with dinner.
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What Is Red Wine
Red wine is a common beverage in many fine dining restaurants to pair with their meals. You can easily get a bottle of it in your local grocery to make your meal times more delicious. Red wine is also perfect for those days when you just want to relax and unwind after a long day at work or doing household chores because it can help ease the tension in your muscles.
However, if you are looking for the best red wine for health, especially when you have high blood pressure, you will need to look for one that doesnt contain any alcohol in it. Alcohol can raise your blood pressure significantly which you need to avoid if you are at risk of high blood pressure. But if you want to get the health benefits of drinking red wine, then you will need to find one that doesnt have any traces of alcohol in it but can still deliver the benefits that you are looking for.
Fortunately, finding the best red wine for health is not that difficult because there are quite a lot of options that can be considered. The only thing you need to do is to make sure that you end up with one that is non-alcoholic, so you can keep your heart safe and your blood pressure properly regulated.
Why Tea Can Help Reduce Blood Pressure
According to research, drinking certain teas like hibiscus and green tea can help boost you hearts health by reducing many of the risk factors of heart disease. As well as reducing blood pressure, drinking tea can also help reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
According to research, the reason for this is that many types of tea are high in flavonoids which are polyphenols that act as powerful antioxidants. Not only do these antioxidants benefit the heart but they can protect against a host of diseases caused by oxidative stress from organ damage to skin conditions.
Many teas are also an great source of another natural antioxidant vitamin C. Vitamin C also helps boost the immune system and improves circulation throughout the body. Many teas also contain vitamin K. Vitamin K may not be as essential as some of the other nutrients but it does play an important role in the hearts health as well as preventing clotting and promoting the healing of wounds.
When it comes to heart health, hibiscus tea has been very well researched. Studies, which we will look at in more detail later, have found that it has a significant impact on both cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
Regularly drinking tea has a range of other potential benefits. It can help people control their weight especially as part of a diet plan. Not only will you look better but obesity is another major risk factor in heart disease and stroke.
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How Does Red Wine Help Protect The Heart
The benefits of red wine come from polyphenols naturally occurring compounds that have antioxidant properties. Polyphenols like resveratrol and procyanidins have been linked to a variety of health benefits, including cardiovascular health.
How exactly do these compounds protect the heart?
Studies suggest that these polyphenols:
- Boost good cholesterol
- Lower bad cholesterol
- Reduce blood clotting
So, wines with high levels of resveratrol and procyanidins are considered the best for your heart.
How Do I Make Sure I Am Taking A Good Reading
Now that weve gotten the background information out of the way, its time to get started!
- Sit with your back straight, your legs uncrossed, and your feet flat on the floor.
- Place the cuff on your left arm or wrist .
- For upper arm monitors, wrap the cuff around the middle of your bare upper arm, about ½ above the elbow. It should be fastened snugly, but you should be able to slide two fingers underneath the cuff. Place the air hose on the inside of the arm near the crook of your elbow so that the artery position mark is aligned with your brachial artery.
- For wrist monitors, with the palm facing upwards, attach the monitor to the inside of your wrist. Fasten securely with the top edge of the cuff aligned with the crease of your wrist.
Thats all there is to it!
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Wine And Blood Pressure
While red wine has been touted to have many heart health benefits, lowering blood pressure is not one of them. Treat red and white wine equaling when it comes to blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, consume wine in moderation.
If your blood pressure is not in control, I recommend you eliminate alcohol completely until your blood pressure is well-managed.
Researchers in Spain did find high blood pressure benefits were connected to drinking non-alcoholic red wine. Extra emphasis on the NON-ALCOHOLIC part.
How Often Can I Have White Wine Sangria For The Health Benefits
In order to get the most out of this sangria recipe as far as health benefits go, I would recommend simply sticking with one or two drinks per day.
Personally, I stick with one glass daily throughout the week and then I have 2 in the evenings after dinner on the weekend. This means I get to enjoy a tasty drink every day while also keeping my heart health on pointtalk about a win-win.
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Myth: Red Wine Is An Antioxidant
Fact: Its true that red wine contains antioxidants, which can improve cholesterol and help you maintain a healthy blood pressure.
You want to make sure, however, youre not drinking so much red wine that the alcohol counters the protective benefits. If youre interested in getting more antioxidants in your diet, talk to a dietitian or your doctor about antioxidant-rich foods and supplements.
What Are The Precautions Of Red Wine For Lowering High Blood Pressure
So, drinking the best red wine for health can help you fight high blood pressure. Good! Youre probably planning on getting several bottles of it so that you will be able to have a drink every night. But before you do splurge on this beverage in the hopes that it will help you regulate your blood pressure, there are a few precautions that you need to consider.
For one thing, too much consumption of even the best red wine for health can have its drawbacks such as weight gain. This depends mostly on the calorie content of the drink. If you drink more than a glass or two, there is a high chance that you are contributing to your weight gain.
Another precaution to take into consideration when it comes to drinking red wine is that it may cause blood thinning especially in those who are taking blood thinners as part of their medication. Combining the two can be a health hazard. There is also a possibility of side effects when taking medications and drinking red wine which you need to be aware of if you are trying to keep your blood pressure to a minimum. If you are not sure about the side effects of wine and medications, you should ask your doctor for a consult.
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What Causes High Blood Pressure
There isnt always a clear explanation as to why someones blood pressure is high. However, there are several factors that can play a part in increasing the risks of developing hypertension:
- Regularly drinking alcohol beyond the low-risk guidelines
- Not doing enough exercise
Wine Calms High Blood Pressure
In the study, which appears in the September issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers followed more than 36,000 healthy middle-aged men who were not taking drugs for heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure.
The men’s health and drinking status were recorded in an exam conducted between 1978 and 1985 and deaths among the group were tracked for 13-21 years.
Overall, 4,203 deaths were recorded during the study period. Researchers found that at each blood pressure level, men who drank less than 60 grams of alcohol a day from wine were less likely to have died from any cause than those who didn’t drink, even among those with high blood pressure.
Specifically, men with an average systolic blood pressure of:
- 158 mm Hg had a 23% lower risk
- 139 mm Hg had a 27% lower risk
- 116 mm Hg had a 37% lower risk
The study was supported by the French Ministry of Agriculture and the European Institute for Wine and Health.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
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Drinking Red Wine For Heart Health Read This Before You Toast
For years, studies have shown a relationship between drinking a moderate amount of red wine and good heart health, but experts say it’s important to understand what that means before you prescribe yourself a glass or two a day.
If you have questions or comments about this story, please email .
This story is part of Eat It or Leave It?, a series that provides a closer look at the pros and cons associated with certain foods and drinks.
How Alcohol Affects Blood Pressure
There are many ways alcohol is known to indirectly affect blood pressure. These include:
- Nervous system changes: Medical scientists do not fully understand how alcohols effect on the nervous system influences blood pressure. However, alcohol is known to affect the nervous system, and the nervous system plays a role in controlling blood pressure.
- Changes in pressure receptors: Receptors in the body called baroreceptors sense blood pressure levels and make any needed adjustments. Alcohol affects these receptors, making blood pressure higher.
- Increased cortisol: Cortisol is a stress hormone that raises blood pressure. Alcohol increases the amount of cortisol, increasing blood pressure.
- Increased calcium levels: Alcohol increases the amount of calcium in the muscles that line arteries. This causes arteries to become more constricted, elevating blood pressure.
- Increase in vasoconstrictor hormones: There are a number of hormones that cause arteries to constrict. Scientists have found that alcohol interacts with these hormones to increase blood pressure by constricting arteries and retaining fluid filtered in the kidneys.
- Weight effects: Being overweight is known to increase blood pressure. The empty calories in alcohol lead to weight gain over the long term, further increasing blood pressure.
There is no single factor that makes blood pressure increase from alcohol use. Rather, it is a combination of factors that work together to create high blood pressure.
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Does Blood Pressure Meds Cause Hair Loss
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Refreshing Drinks That Lower Your Blood Pressure
by Melissa Mills, RNNovember 18, 2016
Whenyou have a problem, you mightjump to finda “quickfix.” But, lets face it, there are no secret formulas or magical drinksthat will instantly loweryour blood pressure.
However –
After a little research, we’ve discovered these tasty beverages that can make a difference. So drink up and getyour blood pressure readings moving in the right direction!
**If you’re experiencing high blood pressure, it’s important to monitor your readings.Be sure to discuss ways to get your blood pressure under control with your doctoras soon as possible to avoidlong-term complications.
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How Much Alcohol Is Too Much
Whether or not moderate drinking is good for your heart is open to debate. However, for most people, it doesnt appear to be harmful to the heart, McEvoy says but the key word is moderate.
Moderate drinking is defined as an average of one drink per day for women and one or two for men. A drink might be less than you think: 12 ounces of beer, 4 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits.
Some people should avoid even that much, McEvoy adds. He advises patients not to drink at all if they have certain heart rhythm abnormalities or have heart failure. There are certain situations where its best the patient doesnt drink any alcohol, he says.
Red Wine And Alcohol In Men At Risk Of Heart Disease
Another study tested the blood pressure effects of red wine against de-alcoholized red wine and gin, in 67 older men who were at high cardiovascular risk due to having diabetes, or at least 3 heart disease risk factors such as hypertension, high cholesterol, smoking or obesity.
During 3 separate treatment periods of 4 weeks, each volunteer drank either red wine every day, or the equivalent amount of de-alcoholized red wine, or gin .
On the day after each treatment period, their blood pressure was measured 3 times, at 5-minute intervals after sitting for 15 minutes at rest.
In this study, involving men at high risk of heart attack or stroke, the month of drinking de-alcoholized red wine lowered blood pressure by 5.8/2.3 mmHg, significantly more than the red wine or the gin .
In a few people, blood pressure readings went up, but the overall change was a reduction in blood pressure readings with the alcohol-free wine.
Blood tests showed these changes were associated with increases in a powerful blood vessel dilating substance called nitric oxide.
The researchers concluded that the daily consumption of de-alcoholized red wine could be useful for the prevention of low to moderate hypertension in men at risk of cardiovascular disease.
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A Note For Red Wine Lovers
Research has not proven that wine is linked to lowering blood pressure, says James Beckerman, MD, a cardiologist at the Providence St. Vincent Heart Clinic in Portland, OR.
A Dutch study showed that heart-healthy nutrients called polyphenols in red wine help prevent heart disease, but not because of a drop in blood pressure. Research shows that the polyphenols improve the cells lining the blood vessels, and do improve blood flow and heart health. The jury is still out, though, on whether this could potentially improve high blood pressure in severe cases.
Klatsky agrees. âOne glass of red wine isnât going to improve your blood pressure,â he says. âUltimately, itâs lifestyle changes: low salt, optimal weight and exercise, and medication if necessary.â
Do you shudder at the thought of giving up your vino altogether? If youâve been advised against drinking for very high blood pressure, there may be salvation in one kind of wine: nonalcoholic.
One study found that three glasses of nonalcoholic red wine a day over a month led to a significant drop in blood pressure in men with heart disease risk factors. But men who drank red wine with alcohol, or 3 ounces of gin, had no change in their blood pressure. Researchers think that the alcohol in the wine weakens any antioxidant benefit to blood pressure.