Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCan Alcohol Thin Your Blood?Effects of Alcohol on the BloodAlcohol and Blood Thinners
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Can Alcohol Thin Your Blood?
Effects of Alcohol on the Blood
Alcohol and Blood Thinners
Short- and long-termalcohol usehas different effects on the blood. Short-term alcohol use can lead to high blood pressure and thinned blood because it hinders blood cells’ ability to clot. Long-term, excessive drinking can decrease your heart’s ability to function correctly.
This article discusses the effects that alcohol has on the blood in both the short and long term.
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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?Consuming alcohol leads to a lower number of blood platelets because the substance hinders the bone marrow’s ability to produce these cells. It also changes their physical makeup, making them less sticky and therefore less able to stick together and form a clot.
How Does Alcohol Thin the Blood?
Consuming alcohol leads to a lower number of blood platelets because the substance hinders the bone marrow’s ability to produce these cells. It also changes their physical makeup, making them less sticky and therefore less able to stick together and form a clot.
What Are the Effects of Drinking Alcohol on the Blood?
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.
Another reason for the increase in blood pressure and heart rate is how alcohol affects hormones, specifically the stress hormone known ascortisol. Cortisol is released when a person feels physical or psychological stress so that they are prepared for a threat to their well-being. This physiological response primes a person to be alert and ready to act. Alcohol can cause an increased release of cortisol and, in turn, higher blood pressure and a faster heartbeat.
How Long Do These Effects Last?The effects of alcohol consumption on blood pressure and heart rate can last up to 13 hours after drinking, and its effects on heart rate can last up to 24 hours after drinking.
How Long Do These Effects Last?
The effects of alcohol consumption on blood pressure and heart rate can last up to 13 hours after drinking, and its effects on heart rate can last up to 24 hours after drinking.
Long-Term Impact
Long-term effects of excessive alcohol consumption can be detrimental to blood and heart health. Both high blood pressure and heart disease risk are increased in people who use the substance in excess for an extended period.
Long-term alcohol use also can lead to an increased risk of developingarrhythmias, which are irregular heartbeats, as well ascardiomyopathy, a stretching or drooping of the heart. When structural changes take place, it affects how well the blood pumps blood throughout the rest of the body.
Cardiomyopathy can increase your risk of developing the following:
Although alcohol thins the blood, long-term use can have a different effect. When a person drinks excessively for long periods, their risk for astrokeincreases.
Moderate Alcohol Use and Reduced Heart Disease RiskThe amount of alcohol a person consumes daily contributes to how it affects blood and heart health. New research has found that moderate consumption, meaning one or two drinks per day, can decrease cardiovascular disease risk. While the mechanism behind why this happens is unclear, the theory is that this moderate consumption reduces stress reactivity in the brain. Stress is a substantial contributing factor to heart disease.
Moderate Alcohol Use and Reduced Heart Disease Risk
The amount of alcohol a person consumes daily contributes to how it affects blood and heart health. New research has found that moderate consumption, meaning one or two drinks per day, can decrease cardiovascular disease risk. While the mechanism behind why this happens is unclear, the theory is that this moderate consumption reduces stress reactivity in the brain. 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. The body needs blood to clot to prevent too much blood loss, but clotting that’s extreme can lead to blockages in arteries and blood vessels that cut off blood flow, leading to dangerous health issues.
For example, ablood clot can form elsewhere in the body and travelto the heart, lungs, or brain. This type 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.
Since blood thinners are designed to thin the blood and alcohol has that same effect, drinking alcohol while on blood thinners should be avoided to prevent excessive thinning. That said, some studies have found that low to moderate consumption of alcohol is generally safe for people on blood thinners. According to research, having one or two drinks infrequently is considered safe.
Talking to Your Healthcare ProviderIf you take blood thinners and wish to consume alcohol, speak to your healthcare provider first. 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 can consume safely.
Talking to Your Healthcare Provider
If you take blood thinners and wish to consume alcohol, speak to your healthcare provider first. 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 can consume safely.
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Summary
Consuming alcohol will thin your blood, making you more susceptible to heavy bleeding or bruising if you experience an injury. The effects of alcohol on the blood are either short- or long-term. Short-term, you can expect an increase in blood pressure and higher cortisol levels.
Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to an increased risk for cardiovascular events, such as a heart attack or stroke, because of the ways it affects the blood and circulatory system. That said, moderate use of alcohol may have the opposite effect.
People taking blood thinners are cautioned against drinking alcohol, but research has found that it is generally safe when done so infrequently and in moderation. Speak to a healthcare provider before drinking alcohol while on blood thinners.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Eismann H, Sieg L, Ahmed H, Teske J, Behrendt P, Friedrich L, Schumacher C, Johanning K.Influence of alcohol consumption on blood coagulation in rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM): an in-vivo study.Korean J Anesthesiol.2020 Aug;73(4):334-341. doi:10.4097/kja.20071Tasnim S, Tang C, Musini VM, Wright JM.Effect of alcohol on blood pressure.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2020 Jul 1;7(7):CD012787. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012787.pub2Yang JH, Kweon SS, Lee YH, Choi SW, Ryu SY, Nam HS, Park KS, Kim HY, Shin MH.Association between alcohol consumption and serum cortisol levels: A Mendelian randomization study.J Korean Med Sci.2021 Aug 2;36(30):e195. doi:10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e195Centers 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?Cui M, Li F, Gang X, Gao Y, Xiao X, Wang G, Liu Y, Wang G.Association of alcohol consumption with all-cause mortality, new-onset stroke, and coronary heart disease in patients with abnormal glucose metabolism-Findings from a 10-year follow-up of the REACTION study.J Diabetes.2023 Apr;15(4):289-298. doi:10.1111/1753-0407.13371Mezue K, Osborne MT, Abohashem S, Zureigat H, Gharios C, Grewal SS, Radfar A, Cardeiro A, Abbasi T, Choi KW, Fayad ZA, Smoller JW, Rosovsky R, Shin L, Pitman R, Tawakol A.Reduced stress-related neural network activity mediates the effect of alcohol on cardiovascular risk.J Am Coll Cardiol.2023 Jun 20;81(24):2315-2325. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2023.04.015Johns Hopkins Medicine.Thrombosis.Roth JA, Bradley K, Thummel KE, Veenstra DL, Boudreau D.Alcohol misuse, genetics, and major bleeding among warfarin therapy patients in a community setting.Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf.2015 Jun;24(6):619-27. doi:10.1002/pds.3769
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Eismann H, Sieg L, Ahmed H, Teske J, Behrendt P, Friedrich L, Schumacher C, Johanning K.Influence of alcohol consumption on blood coagulation in rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM): an in-vivo study.Korean J Anesthesiol.2020 Aug;73(4):334-341. doi:10.4097/kja.20071Tasnim S, Tang C, Musini VM, Wright JM.Effect of alcohol on blood pressure.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2020 Jul 1;7(7):CD012787. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012787.pub2Yang JH, Kweon SS, Lee YH, Choi SW, Ryu SY, Nam HS, Park KS, Kim HY, Shin MH.Association between alcohol consumption and serum cortisol levels: A Mendelian randomization study.J Korean Med Sci.2021 Aug 2;36(30):e195. doi:10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e195Centers 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?Cui M, Li F, Gang X, Gao Y, Xiao X, Wang G, Liu Y, Wang G.Association of alcohol consumption with all-cause mortality, new-onset stroke, and coronary heart disease in patients with abnormal glucose metabolism-Findings from a 10-year follow-up of the REACTION study.J Diabetes.2023 Apr;15(4):289-298. doi:10.1111/1753-0407.13371Mezue K, Osborne MT, Abohashem S, Zureigat H, Gharios C, Grewal SS, Radfar A, Cardeiro A, Abbasi T, Choi KW, Fayad ZA, Smoller JW, Rosovsky R, Shin L, Pitman R, Tawakol A.Reduced stress-related neural network activity mediates the effect of alcohol on cardiovascular risk.J Am Coll Cardiol.2023 Jun 20;81(24):2315-2325. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2023.04.015Johns Hopkins Medicine.Thrombosis.Roth JA, Bradley K, Thummel KE, Veenstra DL, Boudreau D.Alcohol misuse, genetics, and major bleeding among warfarin therapy patients in a community setting.Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf.2015 Jun;24(6):619-27. doi:10.1002/pds.3769
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Eismann H, Sieg L, Ahmed H, Teske J, Behrendt P, Friedrich L, Schumacher C, Johanning K.Influence of alcohol consumption on blood coagulation in rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM): an in-vivo study.Korean J Anesthesiol.2020 Aug;73(4):334-341. doi:10.4097/kja.20071Tasnim S, Tang C, Musini VM, Wright JM.Effect of alcohol on blood pressure.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2020 Jul 1;7(7):CD012787. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012787.pub2Yang JH, Kweon SS, Lee YH, Choi SW, Ryu SY, Nam HS, Park KS, Kim HY, Shin MH.Association between alcohol consumption and serum cortisol levels: A Mendelian randomization study.J Korean Med Sci.2021 Aug 2;36(30):e195. doi:10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e195Centers 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?Cui M, Li F, Gang X, Gao Y, Xiao X, Wang G, Liu Y, Wang G.Association of alcohol consumption with all-cause mortality, new-onset stroke, and coronary heart disease in patients with abnormal glucose metabolism-Findings from a 10-year follow-up of the REACTION study.J Diabetes.2023 Apr;15(4):289-298. doi:10.1111/1753-0407.13371Mezue K, Osborne MT, Abohashem S, Zureigat H, Gharios C, Grewal SS, Radfar A, Cardeiro A, Abbasi T, Choi KW, Fayad ZA, Smoller JW, Rosovsky R, Shin L, Pitman R, Tawakol A.Reduced stress-related neural network activity mediates the effect of alcohol on cardiovascular risk.J Am Coll Cardiol.2023 Jun 20;81(24):2315-2325. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2023.04.015Johns Hopkins Medicine.Thrombosis.Roth JA, Bradley K, Thummel KE, Veenstra DL, Boudreau D.Alcohol misuse, genetics, and major bleeding among warfarin therapy patients in a community setting.Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf.2015 Jun;24(6):619-27. doi:10.1002/pds.3769
Eismann H, Sieg L, Ahmed H, Teske J, Behrendt P, Friedrich L, Schumacher C, Johanning K.Influence of alcohol consumption on blood coagulation in rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM): an in-vivo study.Korean J Anesthesiol.2020 Aug;73(4):334-341. doi:10.4097/kja.20071
Tasnim S, Tang C, Musini VM, Wright JM.Effect of alcohol on blood pressure.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2020 Jul 1;7(7):CD012787. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012787.pub2
Yang JH, Kweon SS, Lee YH, Choi SW, Ryu SY, Nam HS, Park KS, Kim HY, Shin MH.Association between alcohol consumption and serum cortisol levels: A Mendelian randomization study.J Korean Med Sci.2021 Aug 2;36(30):e195. 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?
Cui M, Li F, Gang X, Gao Y, Xiao X, Wang G, Liu Y, Wang G.Association of alcohol consumption with all-cause mortality, new-onset stroke, and coronary heart disease in patients with abnormal glucose metabolism-Findings from a 10-year follow-up of the REACTION study.J Diabetes.2023 Apr;15(4):289-298. doi:10.1111/1753-0407.13371
Mezue K, Osborne MT, Abohashem S, Zureigat H, Gharios C, Grewal SS, Radfar A, Cardeiro A, Abbasi T, Choi KW, Fayad ZA, Smoller JW, Rosovsky R, Shin L, Pitman R, Tawakol A.Reduced stress-related neural network activity mediates the effect of alcohol on cardiovascular risk.J Am Coll Cardiol.2023 Jun 20;81(24):2315-2325. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2023.04.015
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Thrombosis.
Roth JA, Bradley K, Thummel KE, Veenstra DL, Boudreau D.Alcohol misuse, genetics, and major bleeding among warfarin therapy patients in a community setting.Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf.2015 Jun;24(6):619-27. doi:10.1002/pds.3769
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