Skip to main content
Journal of the National Medical Association logoLink to Journal of the National Medical Association
letter
. 1985 May;77(5):385–389.

Alcohol-Induced Hypertension: Mechanisms, Complications, and Clinical Implications

Luther T Clark
PMCID: PMC2561877  PMID: 3999153

Abstract

Alcohol abuse is a frequent contributor to elevated blood pressure and may be the most common cause of secondary hypertension. The mechanism of this association is unknown. In most cases, the blood pressure elevations are reversible and return to normal upon discontinuation of alcohol use. Even though transitory, such hypertension cannot be considered benign, or inconsequential, since it may be contributory to the increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease observed in problem drinkers.

Full text

PDF

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Altura B. T., Pohorecky L. A., Altura B. M. Demonstration of tolerance to ethanol in non-nervous tissue: effects on vascular smooth muscle. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 1980 Jan;4(1):62–69. doi: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1980.tb04793.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Arkwright P. D., Beilin L. J., Vandongen R., Rouse I. A., Lalor C. The pressor effect of moderate alcohol consumption in man: a search for mechanisms. Circulation. 1982 Sep;66(3):515–519. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.66.3.515. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Beevers D. B., Bannan L. T., Saunders J. B., Paton A., Walters J. R. Alcohol and hypertension. Contrib Nephrol. 1982;30:92–97. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Dyer A. R., Stamler J., Paul O., Berkson D. M., Lepper M. H., McKean H., Shekelle R. B., Lindberg H. A., Garside D. Alcohol consumption, cardiovascular risk factors, and mortality in two Chicago epidemiologic studies. Circulation. 1977 Dec;56(6):1067–1074. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.56.6.1067. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Harburg E., Ozgoren F., Hawthorne V. M., Schork M. A. Community norms of alcohol usage and blood pressure: Tecumseh, Michigan. Am J Public Health. 1980 Aug;70(8):813–820. doi: 10.2105/ajph.70.8.813. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Kaelber C., Mills G. Alcohol consumption and cardiovascular diseases: introductory remarks. Circulation. 1981 Sep;64(3 Pt 2):III–6. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Kagan A., Popper J. S., Rhoads G. G. Factors related to stroke incidence in Hawaii Japanese men. The Honolulu Heart Study. Stroke. 1980 Jan-Feb;11(1):14–21. doi: 10.1161/01.str.11.1.14. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Kagan A., Yano K., Rhoads G. G., McGee D. L. Alcohol and cardiovascular disease: the Hawaiian experience. Circulation. 1981 Sep;64(3 Pt 2):III–31. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Klatsky A. L., Friedman G. D., Siegelaub A. B., Gérard M. J. Alcohol consumption and blood pressure Kaiser-Permanente Multiphasic Health Examination data. N Engl J Med. 1977 May 26;296(21):1194–1200. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197705262962103. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Kozararevic D., McGee D., Vojvodic N., Racic Z., Dawber T., Gordon T., Zukel W. Frequency of alcohol consumption and morbidity and mortality: The Yugoslavia Cardiovascular Disease Study. Lancet. 1980 Mar 22;1(8169):613–616. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(80)91116-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Larbi E. B., Cooper R. S., Stamler J. Alcohol and hypertension. Arch Intern Med. 1983 Jan;143(1):28–29. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Linkola J., Fyhrquist F., Ylikahri R. Renin, aldosterone and cortisol during ethanol intoxication and hangover. Acta Physiol Scand. 1979 May;106(1):75–82. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.1979.tb06372.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. McIntyre O. R. Current concepts in cancer. Multiple myeloma. N Engl J Med. 1979 Jul 26;301(4):193–196. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197907263010405. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Ogata M., Mendelson J. H., Mello N. K., Majchrowicz E. Adrenal function and alcoholism. II. Catecholamines. Psychosom Med. 1971 Mar-Apr;33(2):159–180. doi: 10.1097/00006842-197103000-00007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Potter J. F., Beevers D. G. Pressor effect of alcohol in hypertension. Lancet. 1984 Jan 21;1(8369):119–122. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(84)90060-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Saunders J. B., Beevers D. G., Paton A. Alcohol-induced hypertension. Lancet. 1981 Sep 26;2(8248):653–656. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(81)90995-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Wallace R. B., Lynch C. F., Pomrehn P. R., Criqui M. H., Heiss G. Alcohol and hypertension: epidemiologic and experimental considerations. The Lipid Research Clinics Program. Circulation. 1981 Sep;64(3 Pt 2):III–47. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. West L. J., Maxwell D. S., Noble E. P., Solomon D. H. Alcoholism. Ann Intern Med. 1984 Mar;100(3):405–416. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-100-3-405. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Wilhelmsen L., Wedel H., Tibblin G. Multivariate analysis of risk factors for coronary heart disease. Circulation. 1973 Nov;48(5):950–958. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.48.5.950. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Yano K., Rhoads G. G., Kagan A. Coffee, alcohol and risk of coronary heart disease among Japanese men living in Hawaii. N Engl J Med. 1977 Aug 25;297(8):405–409. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197708252970801. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of the National Medical Association are provided here courtesy of National Medical Association

RESOURCES