CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY ON EFFECT OF ALCOHOL ON BLOOD PRESSURE
Dr. Sreethu Suresh*, Dr. Salma Salim, Dr. Stephy D. Cleetus, Dr. P. Sameer, Dr. Ritty Sara Cherian and Dr. B. A. Vishwanath
Abstract
Background: Alcohol abuse is a frequent contributor to elevated
blood pressure and may be the most common cause of secondary
hypertension. In most cases, the blood pressure elevations are
reversible and return to normal upon discontinuation of alcohol use. In
this questionnaire based cross-sectional study we aimed to identify the
association between alcohol consumption and blood pressure changes.
Objective: The main aim of this study is;
To determine the effect of alcohol on blood pressure
To create awareness among people about complications of regular
alcohol consumption
To determine the highest range of blood pressure in alcoholic
population
Methods and Methodology: The study was conducted in rural villages of Karnataka. Our
study comprises 300 populations, out of which 250 were alcoholic and 50 were nonalcoholic.
Among 250 alcoholic populations, 223 were males and 27 were females. The blood
pressure of 250 alcoholic population were measured by sphygmomanometer and a special
epidemiological questionnaire was completed by each participant. Result: The prevalence of
hypertension was high in people drinking every day. For every day drinkers the blood
pressure was independent of the amount they consume. Blood pressure was high in chronic
drinkers. Conclusion: Our study concluded that there is a positive association between
alcohol consumption and hypertension. The highest range of blood pressure among alcoholic
population was found to be >180/>110mmHg.
Keywords: Alcohol, hypertension, blood pressure, alcoholic population, chronic drinkers.
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