Effect of alcohol on cardiovascular reflexes.

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Abstract
Cardiovascular reflexes before and after single doses of alcohol were measured in 20 healthy volunteers (10 women; mean age 27). The Valsalva maneuver, a deep breath, hyperventilation and a 60.degree. head-up body tilt were used to elicit the reflexes. On 3 consecutive days the subjects were given orange juice either alone (placebo) or mixed with vodka to a dose of 0.3 or 0.6 g of alcohol/kg of body weight. Reflexes were elicited before and 15 and 45 min after the drinks were consumed. Base-line measurements of heart rate, blood flow in the hand and forearms and diastolic blood pressure increased after both doses of alcohol. Reflex-induced changes in heart rate and the vasoconstriction in the hand caused by hyperventilation were more pronounced after both doses of alcohol. These changes were not likely to be of physiological significance in healthy persons. Alcohol might enhance cardiovascular reflex modulation by increasing adrenergic activity.