Alcohol consumption and hypertension.

Many observational studies have shown a relationship between three or more alcoholic drinks daily and hypertension. Reduction in alcohol intake is associated with lowering of blood pressure in randomized clinical trials: each drink per day reduction in intake lowers systolic and diastolic blood pressure by approximately 1 mm Hg. Although regular alcohol consumption seems to reduce the incidence of atherothrombotic cardiovascular events, excessive alcohol intake increases the risk of many medical and psychosocial problems. For persons with hypertension who drink excessively, average maximum alcohol intake of one drink per day in women and two drinks per day in men is a reasonable goal, if drinking is not otherwise contraindicated.