I have had rather low blood pressure since my youth and I often feel dizzy because of it. “Have a couple of glasses of wine, it will straighten you out,” I hear from older and more experienced people. Some even advise something sharper. But Canadian scientists have now discovered that high doses of alcohol, on the other hand, lower blood pressure for up to 12 hours. After 13 hours, the effect reverses, according to a 2020 study.

People don’t check their blood pressure

The American Heart Association has come up with new recommendations and guidelines as the numbers of people with uncontrolled high blood pressure rise. This means that more young people are likely to have to take medication, plus limit their alcohol consumption. In fact, hypertension is the most common risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It affects approximately 31 per cent of the adult population worldwide, which is about 1.4 billion people.

Unfortunately, people often ignore the warning signs and do not go to the doctor. As a result, stroke, heart failure or myocardial infarction are more likely to occur. Doctors are sounding the alarm and have set out new recommendations. New in last year’s guidelines is a specific recommendation for patients with blood pressure values between 130-139/80-89 mm Hg. Even then, the doctor should intervene. For those affected, this means a change in lifestyle and, if necessary, taking medication.

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Big no to alcohol

We have known for a long time that alcohol is not good for your health. Yet people still consume it, often in large quantities. American cardiologists now recommend minimising or completely eliminating alcohol. In fact, studies have shown that blood pressure rises in direct proportion to alcohol consumption, and people who don’t drink alcohol have the lowest risk of high blood pressure. In addition, reducing alcohol intake by 50% significantly improves blood pressure readings.

Alcohol plays games with blood pressure. It lowers it for the first 12 hours after consumption and then raises it. In addition, high doses of alcohol increase heart rate all the time, up to 24 hours after consumption. So can we even have a glass of wine? According to doctors, women can have a maximum of one drink a day and men two. In my opinion, that’s still very generous.

Lifestyle

Have you thought of something you could do for your heart health and blood pressure values? Perfect. It doesn’t just have to be about reducing your drinking. Focusing on a healthy diet with lower sodium intake is also ideal. This implies eating fresh unprocessed foods. Vegetables, fruits and plenty of lean protein are ideal.

In addition, it is also necessary to focus on physical activity. You do not need to move daily, although at least a short walk is beneficial. About two hours of exercise a week is enough. It is good to divide the time into two days. You can choose the activity of your choice. The great thing is that sport can also help you reduce stress. You can also combat stress further by relaxing. How about a hot bath or a good cup of tea and a nice book?