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Alcohol and Blood Pressure: What Cutting Back Does
Alcohol and blood pressure move together: an analysis of 19,548 adults found about one drink a day went with a 1.25 mm Hg rise in systolic pressure over five years, and four times that amount went with a 4.9 mm Hg rise. The AHA limit is two drinks a day for men and one for women. If you do not drink, do not start.
Written by the Melonex numbers deskUpdated · 4 min read
01The limits
How much alcohol is too much for blood pressure?
The AHA says no more than two drinks a day for men and one a day for women, and that nondrinkers should not start.
That is the AHA's guidance for people who drink (AHA, Limiting alcohol to manage high blood pressure). Lower is better for pressure, as the study below shows.
The size of a drink matters. A big pour counts as more than one, and a pint glass or a tall cocktail often holds two standard drinks. Measure once at home so you know what your usual glass holds.
| Drink | Amount | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Beer | 12 oz | 5% |
| Malt liquor | 8 oz | 7% |
| Wine | 5 oz | 12% |
| 80-proof liquor | 1.5 oz | Spirits |
Source: AHA, last reviewed May 7, 2024 (AHA, Limiting alcohol to manage high blood pressure).
02The study
What did the research find about even one drink?
A pooled study found that about one drink a day went with a higher systolic pressure over time.
The analysis covered 19,548 adults from seven studies in the U.S., Korea and Japan. None had high blood pressure at the start. They were followed for 4 to 12 years (AHA News, One drink a day and blood pressure).
At about 12 g of alcohol a day, roughly one U.S. drink, systolic pressure rose 1.25 mm Hg over five years. At 48 g a day, it rose 4.9 mm Hg (AHA News, One drink a day and blood pressure).
mm Hg systolic
About one drink a day, over five years.
mm Hg systolic
48 g of alcohol a day, over the study period.
This is an association, not proof of cause in any one person. The lead researcher said alcohol is not the sole driver of pressure changes (AHA News, One drink a day and blood pressure).
03A plan
How do you cut back and see if it matters?
Set a weekly cap, log your pressure and compare two weeks before and after you cut back.
Do not guess. Compare your averages with the AHA categories in our blood pressure numbers guide. Count drinks with the table above, and keep the count next to your readings.
Count for a week
Write down every drink and its size.
Set a cap
Stay within the AHA limit, or lower if you can.
Log the cuff
Use the format in our post on the blood pressure log.
Compare
Look at two weeks before against two weeks after.
04Know the lows
Can alcohol cause dizziness with blood pressure drugs?
Ask your doctor or pharmacist, because medicines for blood pressure can push it low and alcohol is a separate question.
Low blood pressure is below 90/60. Signs include dizziness, fainting, blurry vision, confusion and weakness (NHLBI, Low blood pressure). Medicines for high blood pressure can cause it.
We found no source that sets a safe amount of alcohol beside any one drug, so ask. Our post on caffeine and blood pressure covers another daily drink.
- Dizzy or lightheadedEspecially when you stand up
- FaintingOr feeling you might
- Blurry visionComes and goes
- Weak or confusedUnusual tiredness
- Pounding heartbeatPalpitations, nausea
90/60Below this is low blood pressure (NHLBI). If these signs start after adding a supplement to blood-pressure medicine, sit or lie down, stop the supplement and call your doctor. Do not change your prescribed medicine on your own.
180/120Above this, wait a minute and measure again. Still that high with chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness, weakness, vision change or trouble speaking: call 911.
Low-pressure signs from NHLBI (NHLBI, Low blood pressure); the 180/120 steps from the American Heart Association (AHA, Blood pressure readings).
Carry on with prescribed medicine, and be honest with your doctor about how much you drink. Do not stop a dose on your own.
05On the label
Where does a supplement fit when you cut back?
A supplement sits beside habits like less alcohol, never in place of them or your medicine.
Melonex's label says people with a known medical condition should consult a physician before use. It lists a 500 mg blend and no alcohol. Read the side effects and interactions page, and see LDL and HDL numbers for another number to track.
Prices listed on the seller's order page; confirm at checkout. The 2-bottle kit costs $158, with $9.99 shipping. Ask your doctor about your medicines first. 60-day money-back guarantee per the seller.
Melonex is not a treatment; it is a dietary supplement. Ask your doctor or pharmacist first if you take blood-pressure medicine, nitrates for chest pain, an erectile-dysfunction drug such as sildenafil or tadalafil, a potassium-sparing diuretic (amiloride, spironolactone, triamterene), a blood thinner, or diabetes medicine, or if you have had a recent heart attack. Arginine and citrulline can add to these. Keep taking prescribed medicine. See side effects and interactions.
06FAQ
Melonex questions people ask
Does one drink a day raise blood pressure?
An analysis of 19,548 adults tied about one drink a day to a 1.25 mm Hg rise in systolic pressure over five years. It shows a link, not a guarantee for you. Your doctor can weigh it with your own numbers.
How many drinks a day does the AHA allow?
For people who drink, the AHA says no more than two a day for men and one a day for women. One drink is 12 oz of beer, 5 oz of wine or 1.5 oz of 80-proof liquor. Nondrinkers should not start.
Does cutting back on alcohol lower blood pressure?
The study ties lower intake to smaller rises, so cutting back is a reasonable step. We found no number promising a drop for you. Log your readings for two weeks before and after and show your doctor.
Should you drink before a blood pressure reading?
No. Mayo Clinic says to avoid caffeine, tobacco and alcohol for 30 minutes before a reading. Take the reading first, then have the drink.
07Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the seller's materials and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, AHA, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read how we write and how we check reviews. This website is run by Melonexheart, which describes itself as a U.S. authorized Melonex merchant. It is not the manufacturer or the label's distributor, and we cannot independently verify the 'authorized' status. We are paid when you buy through our order links.
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