Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Hypertension

Öz

Prevention of hypertension and lowering blood pressure with non-pharmacological treatment and lifestyle changes may reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality associated with alcohol while they also play an important role in reducing the cost of medical treatment. Reduction of alcohol consumption is one of the recommended lifestyle changes in the JNC VII report. Excessive amounts of alcohol consumption leads to an increase in blood pressure in both normotensive and hypertensive individuals. At the same time, alcohol can lead to resistance to antihypertensive drug treatment. Effects of alcohol on blood pressure is depent on the amount of alcohol rather than the type of alcohol. As far as heart diseases are concerned, mild-to-moderate alcohol consumption, despite its tendency to increase blood pressure, is associated with decreased risk of coronary artery diseases and ischemic stroke by way of elevating high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, reducing fibrinogen and platelet aggregation, and producing positive effects on antioxidants systems. However, increased alcohol consumption is accompanied by increased blood pressure, hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes, alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, and sudden cardiac death. Therefore, people with hypertension should avoid or reduce alcohol consumption in addition to drug treatment. A positive relationship has been detected between decreasing alcohol consumption and systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Reducing alcohol consumption provides a 2-4 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure levels. For this reason, 1-2 drinks per day for men and up to one drink for women and people with poor health seem to be optimal amounts. People who use alcohol should keep in mind that moderation and unexcessive consumption are the key words in avoiding alcohol related medical conditions.

Key Words: Alcohol; Hypertension; Cardiovascular Disease.

Anahtar Kelimeler

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Alkol Tüketiminin Hipertansiyon Üzerine Etkileri

Öz

Non farmakolojik tedavi ve yaşam şekli değişiklikleri ile hipertansiyonun önlenmesi ve kan basıncının düşürülmesi, kardiyovasküler hastalıklarla ilişkili morbidite ve mortaliteyi azaltma ve tedavi harcamalarını düşürmede önemli bir rol oynayabilir. Alkol kullanımının azaltılması JNC VII raporunda önerilen yaşam tarzı değişikliklerinden birisidir. Aşırı miktarda alkol tüketimi hem normotansif, hem de hipertansif bireylerde kan basıncında yükselmeye neden olur. Aynı zamanda alkol antihipertansif ilaç tedavisine direnç oluşturabilir. Alkolün kan basıncı üzerine etkisi alkolün türünden çok, alkol miktarına bağlıdır. Kalp hastalığı açısından bakılacak olursa hafif-ılımlı alkol kullanımı her ne kadar kan basıncı artışına eğilim oluştursa da yüksek dansiteli lipoprotein kolesterolü artırması, fibrojeni ve platelet agregasyonunu azaltması ve antioksidan sistemler üzerindeki olumlu etkileri ile azalmış koroner hastalık ve iskemik inme riski ile beraberdir. Bununla birlikte tüketilen alkol miktarı arttıkça kan basıncında yükselme, hemorajik ve iskemik inme, alkolle ilişkili kardiyomyopati, aritmi ve ani kardiyak ölüm riski artmaktadır. Bu nedenle hipertansiyon saptanan kişilerde ilaç tedavisinin dışında yapılması gerekenlerden birisi alkolün bırakılması veya azaltılması olmalıdır. Alkol alımının azaltılması ile sistolik ve diyastolik kan basınçlarındaki net azalma arasında belirgin pozitif ilişki olduğu saptanmıştır. Alkol tüketiminin azaltılması sistolik kan basıncında yaklaşık 2-4 mmHg bir azalma sağlamaktadır. Bu nedenle erkeklerde günde 1-2 içki, kadınlar ve çok zayıf kişilerde 1 içkiye kadar miktarlar optimal gözükmektedir. Alkol kullanan kişilerde anahtar sözcüğün ılımlılık, aşırıya kaçmamak olduğu unutulmamalıdır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Alkol, Hipertansiyon, Kardiyovasküler Hastalık

Kaynakça

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