Few people know it, but alcohol increases blood pressure: the number of drinks not to exceed

Alcohol is not only toxic to the liver or the brain. Few people know it, but it is also a significant risk factor for high blood pressure. In France, “we estimate that 655,000 people aged 18 to 74 are hypertensive due to alcohol consumption [trop élevée] including 624,000 men and 31,000 women“, reports Public Health France in its Weekly epidemiological bulletin from April 30. Hypertension exposes you to cardiovascular complications such as stroke, acute coronary syndromes, chronic kidney failure, heart failure, rhythm or neurocognitive disorders, etc. In addition to cardiovascular risks and cirrhosis. , the consumption of alcoholic beverages increases the risk of cancer. But do the French really know the consumption levels that should not be exceeded to limit the impact on their health?

To help them see clearly, alcohol consumption benchmarks have been defined by a group of experts mandated by Public Health France and the National Cancer Institute (INCa). Several prevention campaigns have been carried out to make these benchmarks known to the French population. However, a quarter of the people questioned by Public Health France exceed one of these consumption benchmarks, even more among men (33%) than among women (15%). This difference between the sexes mainly results from the greater alcohol consumption of men compared to women, but also from episodes of “binge-drinking” (the practice of drinking heavily in a very short period of time, for example at least 4 drinks in 2 hours) and heavy drinking, more often observed in the male population.

The 650,000 patients who have alcohol-related high blood pressure currently exceed the health recommendations of 2 glasses of alcohol per day or do not respect the 2 days of abstinence per week, indicates Santé Publique France. Thus, among men, almost one in ten cases of high blood pressure is attributable to alcohol consumption exceeding 10 drinks per week. “If you consume alcohol, it is recommended to limit the risks to your health during your life“:

• Not to consume more than 10 standard glasses of alcohol per week
• Not to consume more than 2 standard glasses per day
• To have days during the week without alcohol consumption.

Be careful, even below these benchmarks, alcohol is dangerous for your health. These are “lower risk” benchmarks, specifies Santé Publique France. As a reminder, a standard glass of alcohol in France is equivalent to half a beer at 5° (25 cl), a glass of aperitif at 18° (7 cl), a glass of sparkling wine or champagne at 12° ( 10 cl), a glass of whiskey at 40° (2.5 cl), a glass of pastis at 45° (2.5 cl) or a balloon of wine at 12° (10 cl).