One of the best and least recognized measures to take to ensure you save your heart and blood vessels is to limit alcohol. Although moderate drinking is perceived by a large population as harmless or even healthy, there has been rising evidence that alcohol does elevate blood pressure, inflammation and requires the heart system to work hard in the long term. Knowing the impacts of alcohol on the body will allow you to make better choices regarding your future health, particularly when you are already worried about the health of your heart or when you are considering lifestyle remedies and supplements to manage high blood pressure.
Alcohol Effect on Cardiovascular Health
The direct effect of alcohol on blood pressure is that it increases as the body labors more to counter the toxins that are introduced into the blood. Making even moderate drinking may lead to transient elevations, and repeated elevations may add to chronic hypertension. High blood pressure ruins the lining of the arteries, and it becomes unlikely to bend and the plaque is more likely to accumulate. In the long run, this increases the vulnerability of heart disease, stroke and other severe complications which impact on the total cardiovascular functioning.
The effects of alcohol go beyond the effects seen on blood pressure since it also interferes with the normal rhythm and the workload of the heart. Drinking too much dilutes the heart muscle and makes it ineffective in the pumping of blood and its proper circulation. This disorder is called alcoholic cardiomyopathy and may cause such symptoms as shortness of breath, fatigue and irregular heartbeat. Even more vulnerable are the cases when alcohol consumption becomes accompanied by typical risk factors such as stress, lack of sleep, or high-sodium diet. Alcohol intake reduction or supplements for high blood pressure is necessary instead of optional to individuals who already have high blood pressure.
Benefits of Moderation
A heart and blood vessels mean a lot to you, and whether you begin by taking baby steps, cutting down alcohol consumption is beneficial. The blood pressure is likely to go down when you stop drinking alcohol and allow your arteries some room to recuperate and work more effectively. A lot of the population also report greater hydration, liver functioning, and more even-keeled energy levels after reducing. These modifications help a better cardiovascular system and facilitate other healthy habits like regular exercise of having a balanced diet.
Moderation also aids in long term prevention since it reduces the pressure that your circulatory system has to bear. In its absence, alcohol successively reduces the ability of the body to control hormones and blood circulation and stabilize heart rates and vessel integrity. This enables the cardiovascular system to work without having to be subjected to persistent stress factors or inflammatory stimuli. In the long run, this will prevent the risk of heart disease or complications associated with high blood pressure. To any person who wants to keep the heart healthy, alcohol reduction is an easy and effective component of an overall wellness mechanism.
Real Life Reduction Steps
Reduction of alcohol does not involve radical and uncomfortable adjustments. The first step is to establish strict boundaries to yourself. Monitoring the amount you take can make you aware of what you are eating and also realize any trends which might be causing you to eat too. Another popular way of evening drinks that can be used by many people, especially when they don’t want to damage the heart, is to substitute them with such nonalcoholic beverages as sparkling water or herbal tea that will leave a person with a feeling of relaxation.
The drinking habit can also be socially affected and so by changing the way you attend parties, drinking can make a difference. Not all activities in which alcohol is a central theme should be planned as frequent alternatives, like outdoor walks or shared meals, will help relieve the pressure and promote more healthy habits. Telling your friends or family about your goals can also assist you to build accountability and also feel supported through the process of change. These little changes will build up over time as long term habits that will keep your heart and blood vessels safe, keeping you healthy as long as your heart.