A new study from Kaiser Permanente has found that short conversations about alcohol use during routine doctor visits can help adults with high blood pressure drink less and slightly improve their blood pressure over time.
These short conversations, known as brief interventions, are designed to help people reduce harmful drinking without necessarily asking them to quit alcohol completely—though quitting may be advised in some cases.
The researchers looked at the records of over 72,000 adults with high blood pressure and nearly 20,000 adults with type 2 diabetes who showed signs of drinking in unhealthy ways. These people were part of a health system where patients are regularly screened for alcohol use, and those with unhealthy patterns are offered brief counseling and, if needed, referred for more help.
Among the people with high blood pressure, those who received a brief intervention ended up drinking a little less than those who didn’t. On average, they had 0.06 fewer drinks per drinking day and drank 0.30 fewer drinks per week after one year.
While these changes may seem small, the effects on health were still meaningful. At 18 months, these patients were also more likely to show a noticeable drop in diastolic blood pressure—the lower number in a blood pressure reading, which measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest.
Interestingly, the same benefits were not seen in patients with type 2 diabetes. There was no strong link between brief alcohol counseling and changes in drinking or health for this group. The reasons for this are still unclear and may need more research.
Alcohol and blood pressure have a complicated relationship. Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure by tightening blood vessels and interfering with medications. It can also lead to weight gain, which is another risk factor for high blood pressure.
On the other hand, drinking small amounts—like one drink per day for women or two for men—may help raise levels of “good” cholesterol and offer some heart protection. Still, for people with high blood pressure, the risks of drinking often outweigh the benefits.
The new study suggests that adding alcohol screening and brief counseling to regular doctor visits may be a helpful tool in preventing or managing chronic diseases like high blood pressure. Because these interventions are simple and quick, they can be done during routine care and reach many people who might otherwise never talk to their doctor about alcohol.
There are many ways to help prevent or manage high blood pressure. Here are a few key tips:
- Keep a healthy weight: Being overweight puts extra strain on the heart and blood vessels.
- Exercise regularly: Activities like walking, biking, or swimming help lower blood pressure.
- Eat well: Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. Avoid too much salt, sugar, or unhealthy fats.
- Limit alcohol: Stick to moderate drinking or avoid it altogether if you have high blood pressure.
- Quit smoking: Smoking raises blood pressure and damages blood vessels.
- Manage stress: Try relaxation methods like deep breathing, meditation, or gentle yoga.
- Check your blood pressure often: Monitoring helps you and your doctor catch changes early and adjust treatments if needed.
This study, led by Dr. Felicia W. Chi and her team, was published in BMJ Open. It adds to growing evidence that even small changes in alcohol habits—guided by simple conversations with a doctor—can make a real difference for people with high blood pressure.
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