Posted on 04/18/2005 7:32:27 PM PDT by quantim
April 18, 2005 -- Beer and red wine can raise your blood pressure, but researchers say alcohol is still heart healthy in the right amount.
It's well known that alcohol can raise
but it's been unclear if different types of alcohol have the same effect, says Renate R. Zilkens, PhD, research fellow in the School of Medicine and Pharmacology at the University of Western Australia.Red Wine vs. Beer
Zilkens and colleagues wanted to see if the antioxidant chemicals in
could offset some of the blood pressure effects of alcohol. So they compared it with beer.The researchers divided 24 healthy men into four different groups for four weeks:
The men made no other changes in their lifestyle other than limiting tea to less than 2 cups a day (since tea can also raise blood pressure) and avoiding antioxidants (to avoid any potential effect on blood vessels).
The men wore blood pressure and heart rate monitors 24 hours a day.
Blood Pressure, Heart Rate Climb
Compared with the men who did not drink any alcohol, the red wine drinkers had a nearly a 2.5 point jump in their systolic blood pressure. Beer drinkers' blood pressure rose nearly two points.
Systolic blood pressure is the top number of a blood pressure reading. It measures the pressure in blood vessels when the heart pumps.
While this doesn't sound like much, even a few points can make a difference in people who have borderline or high blood pressure. Ideally, blood pressure should be less than 120/80. Blood pressure between 120/80 and 140/90 is called
Heart rate also rose. The researchers tested heart rate during sleep to rule out any effect of activity. Red wine drinkers' heart rate climbed five points for eight to 10 hours after drinking. Beer drinkers' heart rate rose four points.
Removing alcohol from the red wine did not lower the blood pressure.
The researchers say that the blood pressure effects of red wine and beer appear to be similar.
Since the men in the study did not have high blood pressure, it's unclear how these findings apply to people who do. The study appears in the new issue of Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association.
So, if you want to raise your blood pressure, you can either watch CNN or drink a beer. I think I'll have a beer.
That's odd. I find NOT getting wine raises my blood pressure ;-)
I knew this when I was a kid and my Grandmothers (both sides of families) were both banned from even sipping wine for fear of BP rising. They had to waste money for a study to come up with the same results they had 30 years ago?
I'd read this....but I have drank too much of a heart healthy diet tonight....so I am having trouble seE!ng th_ L3^teRs......
LOL. We all know high blood pressure is not necessarily a good thing, but compared to NO blood pressure, it's a beautiful thing.
I'll take my meds and my beer...........;^)
I just don't pay attention to these things anymore.
all the alkoholecs need medicul insurance and free blood peels
I used to drink...a lot. At 40 my BP really began to rise and my pant size went from a 34 to a 42 over 10 years.
In one day I quit smoking completely and drinking to any excess (now about 3 glasses of wine in a month). I am 48 with low BP size 36 and I walk 5 miles every day.
My wife is too pretty to be married to a fat lush with high blood pressure
I'll take my meds and my beer...........;^)
I'm with you......:)
Was traing my pups and got thrown down a window well...
Broke my ribs.
Now there's a data population we can draw some concrete conclusions from. 24 men out of 150 million men in the US!.
FER CRYIN' OUT LOUD! Will someone make up their mind and tell me what to drink already!
The store closes in less than three hours.
You'll have to pry the Pinot Noir and India Pale Ale from my COLD DEAD HANDS!
I have very low blood pressure. Maybe I should drink more AND watch CNN!
She sure is;)
LOL!!!
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