Ditch the Myth: “A Glass of Wine is Good for My Heart” The Truth About Alcohol and Blood Pressure”

Myth: A daily glass of wine is good for your heart and is harmless.
Fact: Even small amounts of alcohol can raise blood pressure and interfere with blood-pressure control. The newest 2025 AHA/ACC hypertension guidance places stronger emphasis on avoiding alcohol for optimal blood pressure management.

Alcohol has complex effects: at low doses it may transiently relax blood vessels, but regular consumption raises blood pressure through multiple mechanisms (increased sympathetic activity, salt retention, weight gain, and medication interactions). For people trying to lower or control blood pressure, cutting alcohol out — or at least stopping regular daily drinking — often produces measurable benefits.

Practical takeaways:

• If you have high blood pressure or are at high cardiovascular risk, discuss alcohol withdrawal with your clinician — avoid regular drinking while you evaluate control.
• If you choose to drink, don’t treat it as a “medicine.” The 2025 guideline advises alcohol avoidance as the safer path for BP control.
• Small changes (swapping wine for sparkling water, alcohol-free social options) can make a big difference.

Why it matters: Better blood pressure control reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease — and, increasingly recognized, cognitive decline.

(References: AHA/ACC 2025 Hypertension Guideline summaries.)