If I take a beta blocker, can I drink alcohol?
Patients taking beta-blockers should avoid the consumption of alcohol. There are several reasons for this. Alcohol has a long-term negative effect on blood pressure.
It can increase the systolic value by up to 7 mmHg and the diastolic value by up to 5 mmHg. In smokers, the blood pressure-increasing effects are even greater. Various mechanisms underlie this increase in blood pressure.
Alcohol indirectly promotes the release of blood pressure-increasing hormones. In addition, high alcohol consumption can lead to weight gain over time and a related increase in blood pressure. In combination with beta-blockers, which are supposed to have exactly the opposite effect, namely a reduction in blood pressure, the risk of undesirable side effects is high.
Therefore, the question of whether one can drink alcohol while taking beta-blockers must basically be answered in the negative. Side effects such as dizziness, unconsciousness and circulatory problems can occur. Damage to the liver can also occur. Especially when taking beta-blockers that are metabolised by the liver, such as propanolol, regular alcohol consumption can lead to liver damage. Furthermore, depression and sleeping disorders can occur more frequently.
How dangerous can this be?
The state of health can be worsened by taking beta blockers and consuming alcohol at the same time. Underlying conditions such as high blood pressure, where beta-blockers are used therapeutically, are aggravated by regular alcohol consumption. In addition, the risk of sometimes serious side effects of the therapy increases.
These include liver dysfunction, circulatory problems and depression. Therefore, regular use of beta-blockers is strongly discouraged. Kidney damage can also occur.
Furthermore, taking beta-blockers in combination with alcohol promotes weight gain. Especially in the case of existing high blood pressure, weight gain has an additional negative effect on the already high blood pressure. The risk of consequential damage such as strokes also increases. The editorship recommends in addition: Nutrition with high blood pressure
What effects does alcohol have on the heart?
For a long time, moderate alcohol consumption was considered to be cardioprotective – alcohol was thus said to have a partially protective effect on the heart. However, this assumption cannot be confirmed in every respect. A critically high alcohol consumption favours heart damage of various kinds.
It is suspected of promoting cardiac arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation. The risk of other cardiovascular diseases also increases. But not only that – alcohol also damages the heart indirectly via an increase in blood pressure.
Regular and high alcohol consumption leads to a long-term increase in blood pressure. This high blood pressure damages blood vessels and is therefore a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, alcohol promotes inflammatory activities in the body and promotes the development of arteriosclerosis.
This increases the risk of heart attacks. The pumping capacity of the heart is also reduced by various factors. In addition, of course, there are also other consequential damages of alcohol such as liver dysfunction, which further worsen the overall condition.
