Alteration in blood pressures associated with combined alcohol and oral contraceptive use—The lipid research clinics prevalence study

Abstract

Alterations in systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels associated with combined oral contraceptive (OC) and alcohol use were investigated in white women 20–49 years of age from 10 North American Lipid Research Clinics study populations. OC users had systolic pressures 2–3 mm Hg higher than non-users, but no difference was noted for diastolic pressures. Among non-OC users, both systolic and diastolic blood pressures were positively associated with reported alcohol consumption, though participants reporting no alcohol use had blood pressures slightly higher than those reporting minimal intake. The blood pressure correlates of OC's and alcohol appeared to be independent, and systolic pressures levels were over 8 mm Hg higher in those reporting heavier alcohol intake and OC use than among those reporting minimal alcohol intake and no OC use.