Patient's question:
Before every trip, my wife always reminds me over and over again, as she's concerned that drinking will harm my health because my blood pressure is high. What happens to patients with high blood pressure who drink?Doctor's answer:
Patients with hypertension must quit smoking and drinking in daily life to maintain their health. Additionally, patients with hypertension should follow a low-sodium diet. Drinking a large amount of beer over a long period is one of the risk factors for hypertension. After consuming a very small amount of beer, patients with hypertension may experience a decrease in blood pressure and a significant increase in heart rate within hours. After drinking a large amount of beer, blood pressure may first rise and then gradually return to normal. Therefore, consuming a large amount of alcohol at once can increase the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in patients with hypertension.