As always, it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider about any concerns regarding alcohol consumption. While moderate consumption might have some benefits related to blood thinning, excessive drinking can be detrimental to your health. Beyond the immediate effects on blood clotting, long-term heavy use can lead to a host of health problems, including liver disease, heart disease, certain types of cancer, and brain damage. However, despite the potential benefits of mild to moderate drinking, heavy drinking increases your risk of the same diseases that moderate drinking can protect against. You should limit your alcohol intake if you are taking blood thinners.
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- This is especially true for heavy drinkers, but moderate drinkers can experience complications, too.
- Platelets also release proteins called clotting factors that form a plug to close the hole.
- Even minor injuries, such as scratches, can damage blood vessels and cause bleeding.
Alcohol Use and Long-Term Health
Internal bleeding is the most dangerous because it is more difficult to detect. However, this exact mechanism may increase your risk of bleeding from strokes. Blood thinners may interact with alcohol as well as certain other medications, foods, and dietary supplements. For example, the NIAA advises that drinking alcohol while taking warfarin, which is a blood thinner, can have does alcohol thin blood adverse effects. A 2017 review explains that alcohol consumption has complex and varying effects on platelets, which are small blood cells that initiate the coagulation cascade, causing blood to clot.
Interactions with Medications
However, that does not mean that drinking is healthy, nor should you use alcohol to manage your blood pressure. There are safer and more reliable ways to manage high blood pressure than regular drinking. Luckily, alcoholics who quit drinking see a reduction in blood pressure.
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- One of the better options for people dealing with alcohol addiction is going to a treatment center.
- Autoimmune disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematous or rheumatoid arthritis can cause this.
- Research has found that alcohol affects the process of blood coagulation.
- When you use prescription medicines to treat the condition whereby your blood is thick, you should consult with your doctor first.
- The longer you have an addiction the more difficult it’s likely to be to kick the habit.
There are too many variables to make a blanket statement that alcohol is good for your blood pressure. Usually, this after three or more drinks are consumed in a single sitting. However, a blood clot can sometimes develop in, or travel to, an artery that delivers oxygen-rich blood to your heart or brain.
A glass or two of wine daily may (or may not) reduce your risk of heart disease or ischemic (clotting) strokes. It gets in the way of blood cell production, down in your bone marrow. Alcohol also reduces the “stickiness” factor of the platelets in your bloodstream, making it more difficult for your body to heal small to large wounds. It can also cause things like nosebleeds after a single night of over-drinking. Yes, alcohol increases heart rate as well as raise blood pressure during the initial stages of intoxication.