Short- and long-termalcohol usehas different effects on the blood.
Long-term, excessive drinking can decrease your hearts ability to function correctly.
This article discusses the effects that alcohol has on the blood in both the short and long term.
Camelia Malaeru / 500px / Getty Images
Camelia Malaeru / 500px / Getty Images
Can Alcohol Thin Your Blood?
Alcohol can thin your blood by preventing blood from clotting.
Research has found that alcohol affects the process of blood coagulation.
“Coagulation” is a term used to describe the process of blood cells known asplatelets sticking together.
Even minor injuries, such as scratches, can damage blood vessels and cause bleeding.
To control excessive bleeding and ensure an injury does not become life-threatening, the blood clots.
When alcohol is introduced into the equation, the blood’s ability to clot is compromised.
How Does Alcohol Thin the Blood?
What Are the Effects of Drinking Alcohol on the Blood?
The effects of alcohol consumption on the blood are either short-term or long-term.
Short-Term Effects
Short-term effects occur because of how alcohol impacts receptors in the blood.
Specific blood vessels near the heart rely on receptors to keep blood pressure at a healthy level.
When alcohol is in the blood, these receptors do not function as they should.
This physiological response primes a person to be alert and ready to act.
How Long Do These Effects Last?
Long-Term Impact
Long-term effects of excessive alcohol consumption can be detrimental to blood and heart health.
When a person drinks excessively for long periods, their risk for astrokeincreases.
Stress is a substantial contributing factor to heart disease.
Should You Drink Alcohol While Taking Blood Thinners?
Blood thinnersare medications given to people with a high risk of dangerous levels of blood-clotting.
This punch in of blockage can lead to life-threatening conditions such aspulmonary embolism, stroke, or heart attack.
Blood-clotting in the circulatory system is referred to as thrombosis.
According to research, having one or two drinks infrequently is considered safe.
They will consider the state of your health and the medications you take.
They may be able to advise you on how often and how much alcohol you could consume safely.
The effects of alcohol on the blood are either short- or long-term.
Short-term, you’ve got the option to expect an increase in blood pressure and higher cortisol levels.
That said, moderate use of alcohol may have the opposite effect.
Speak to a healthcare provider before drinking alcohol while on blood thinners.
doi:10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e195
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Alcohol use and your health.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol’s effects on the body.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is cardiomyopathy?
