Binge drinking and high blood pressure

New research presented at a recent conference focuses on binge drinking and how it may affect blood pressure in early adulthood.

Researchers’ analyzed information provided by more than 8,600 children who filled out detailed surveys every 1 to 2 years from 1996 through 2010, all were 8 to 14 years old at the start of the study.

The team looked at patterns of alcohol use, the amount of alcohol consumed, the age at which drinking began and the development of hypertension.

The results. In young adult men, frequent binge drinking over the past year was associated with significantly increased odds of developing hypertension. In young adult women, binge drinking was not associated with a higher risk for hypertension.

Light or moderate drinking was linked to a reduced risk of high blood pressure. For young male adolescents, binge drinking was also not associated with the development of high blood pressure in early adulthood.

Based on these findings, the researchers are calling for more study of alcohol use in early adulthood, especially among males.