Prospective Study of Moderate Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Hypertension in Young Women

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Abstract
HYPERTENSION is an important cause of disability and mortality and has been linked to several disorders, including coronary and cerebrovascular disease and renal insufficiency.1-3 Persuasive epidemiologic evidence suggests that heavy alcohol consumption is strongly associated with increased risk of hypertension,4 and approximately 3% to 8% of high blood pressure in women is attributable to alcohol consumption.5 Activation of the sympathetic nervous system and alteration of vascular tone have been hypothesized as the probable mechanisms involved to explain this relationship.6 Light to moderate drinking, a more socially acceptable behavior,4 has been associated with a reduced risk of ischemic stroke7 and coronary heart disease8 among women. Despite these data, the effects of light to moderate drinking on blood pressure in young women have not been established.