www.diabeticretinopathy.org.uk           
  

Alcohol, blood pressure, and diabetes

Recent research

the blood pressure rise after 4 pints of beer (8 units)
After 4 pints of beer (8 units) blood pressure rises for 2 days (enlarge)

Recent research has confirmed that alcohol may put blood pressure up. The lower your blood pressure the better, but it is best below 130/80, lower still in some patients. A careful research study recommends less than 6 drinks or units a week, not really more than one a day. More than this leads to damage in the brain. Breast cancer increase.

 

 

How much of your blood pressure is due to alcohol?

rise in blood pressure per unit of alcohol
alcohol increases blood pressure enlarge & press F11 t

Each gram of alcohol puts systolic blood pressure up 0.24mmHg, diastolic 0.16 mmHg. This means 1 pint of beer (2 units, each unit 8g alcohol) with 16gm of alcohol, if drunk every day, will put the systolic blood pressure up (16 x 0.25=) 4mmHg.

 

 

 

 

Use this graph:

enlarge & press F11

 

Do you drink too much? Use this tool...

How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?

 

  • [0] Never
  • [1] Monthly or less
  • [2] 2-4 times a month
  • [3] 2-3 times a week
  • [4] 4 or more times a week

How many units of alcohol do you drink on a typical
day when you are drinking?

 

  • [0] 1 or 2
  • [1] 3 or 4
  • [2] 5 or 6
  • [3] 7, 8 or 9
  • [4] 10 or more
How often do you have six or more units of alcohol
on one occasion?
  • [0] Never
  • [1] Less than monthly
  • [2] Monthly
  • [3] Weekly
  • [4] Daily or almost daily
How often during the last year have you found that you
were not able to stop drinking once you had started?
  • [0] Never
  • [1] Less than monthly
  • [2] Monthly
  • [3] Weekly
  • [4] Daily or almost daily

How often during the last year have you failed to do what was normally expected from you because of drinking?

 

  • [0] Never
  • [1] Less than monthly
  • [2] Monthly
  • [3] Weekly
  • [4] Daily or almost daily
How often during the last year have you needed a first
drink in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy
drinking session?

 

  • [0] Never
  • [1] Less than monthly
  • [2] Monthly
  • [3] Weekly
  • [4] Daily or almost daily
How often during the last year have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking?

 

  • [0] Never
  • [1] Less than monthly
  • [2] Monthly
  • [3] Weekly
  • [4] Daily or almost daily

How often during the last year have you been unable
to remember what happened the night before because
you had been drinking?

  • [0] Never
  • [1] Less than monthly
  • [2] Monthly
  • [3] Weekly
  • [4] Daily or almost daily

Have you or someone else been injured as a result of
your drinking?

  • [0] No
  • [2] Yes but not in the last year
  • [4] Yes, during the last year

Has a relative or friend or doctor or another health
worker been concerned about your drinking or
suggested you cut down?

  • [0] No
  • [2] Yes but not in the last year
  • [4] Yes, during the last year

Record total of specific items here

If total over 8, alcohol use disorder very likely

 

If you scored positive and would like to read some suggestions about what to do next, close this document (save it to disk first if you like) and return to the front page of the About Drinking Problems   section of the Aquarius website. CAGE questions, BMJ (AUDIT Screening tool, from Aquarius).

 

Do you find it difficult to stop drinking? Visit the sites....

UK websites

International websites
www.orchidrecoverycenter.com

Local alcohol services

National alcohol services

Counselling

 Counselling www.counselling-directory.org.uk/

 

Units

units (www.alcohollearningcentre.org.uk)

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