This Know Your Numbers! Week, I want to talk about a risk factor for high blood pressure that is entirely within our control and that’s alcohol.
It’s widely known that drinking alcohol increases blood pressure but what many people don’t realise is that if you drink regularly, that temporary rise can become a permanent one. Sustained high blood pressure, known medically as hypertension, is one of the biggest preventable risk factors for heart attacks and strokes, kidney disease and vascular dementia in the UK.
Alcohol is a completely avoidable cause of severe hypertension in both men and women. Yet, its impact is often underestimated. Many people are quick to link drinking with hangovers, liver damage, or weight gain, but far fewer make the connection between alcohol and heart health. The science is clear: when you drink, your blood pressure rises temporarily. But if you repeatedly drink above the Chief Medical Officer’s recommended low-risk drinking guidelines, your blood pressure can remain elevated all the time – a dangerous state for your heart and blood vessels.
Why is high blood pressure called the “silent killer”?
The problem with high blood pressure is that you can feel perfectly fine while it’s quietly putting your health at risk. There are no obvious early warning signs. This is why it’s often called the silent killer. You might only discover there’s a problem after a serious event such as a stroke or heart attack and by then, some damage may already be done.
What is high blood pressure?
A healthy heart pumps blood easily and efficiently through the arteries at a low pressure. High blood pressure means your heart is working harder than it should, and your arteries are carrying blood at greater force. Over time, this constant pressure damages the artery walls, making them less elastic and more prone to blockage. This increases your risk of:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Kidney disease
- Vascular
- Dementia
Left untreated, it can be life-threatening.
Most people with high blood pressure don’t feel unwell. You can go about your daily life feeling completely normal, even while your heart and arteries are under constant strain. The only reliable way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have it measured.
This can be done:
- At your GP surgery
- At many local pharmacies
- At an NHS Health Check
- At home, with a reliable blood pressure monitor
Why your blood pressure might be high
- Regularly drinking above the CMOs low-risk drinking guidelines
- Not getting enough excersize
- Being overweight
- Eating too much salt
- High stress levels
The good news is that high blood pressure is treatable, and in many cases, preventable. The steps are simple and effective:
- Cut down on alcohol - even small reductions can make a difference
- Be more active - aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week
- Lose excess weight - especially around your waist
- Eat a balanced diet - with plenty of fruit, vegetables, and less salt
Recent data from Drinkaware’s annual Monitor, the UK’s most comprehensive look at drinking habits, shows that one in four UK drinkers say they would cut down if they knew alcohol increased the risk of heart disease or stroke. Among higher-risk mid-life men, that figure rises to 32%.
These figures highlight something important and that is awareness works. When people understand the link between alcohol, high blood pressure, and serious health risks, they are more motivated to make changes.
Know Your Numbers! Week: 8-14 September 2025
This year, Blood Pressure UK is on a mission to locate the “missing millions” – the estimated five million adults in the UK who are unknowingly living with high blood pressure. A simple, painless blood pressure check could be the first step in preventing a life-altering event such as a stroke or heart attack.
During Know Your Numbers! Week, we encourage everyone to take a few minutes to have their blood pressure checked. It could save your life or the life of someone you love.
Three things to remember this week:
- Get you blood pressure checked - It's quick, painless, and could save your life
- Look at your drinking habits - Small changes today can protect your heart tomorrow
- Share this message - A simple conversation could encourage someone else to check their numbers