If you enjoy a drink but want to know if this can increase your risk of stroke, here is information to help.
Does alcohol increase the risk of stroke?
Alcohol can increase your risk of having a stroke because it contributes to a number of conditions that are risk factors for stroke.
- High blood pressure contributes to around half of all strokes in the UK. Drinking too much alcohol raises your blood pressure.
- Drinking more than the recommended limit can make you more likely to have type 2 diabetes, which is linked to an increased risk of stroke.
- Being overweight increases your risk of having a stroke. Alcoholic drinks tend to be high in calories, so regularly drinking lots of alcohol can make it more difficult to maintain a healthy weight.
- Drinking large amounts of alcohol can trigger atrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heartbeat linked to an increased risk of stroke.
Guidelines on low-risk levels of drinking
After a stroke, many people wonder whether they can still drink alcohol.
The UK government guidelines advise that to keep your risk low, it’s best not to regularly drink more than 14 units per week. If you do drink as much as 14 units per week, it is best to spread this across at least three days in the week. The limit is the same for men and women. Some people may be advised by their doctor to drink less than this or not at all, for example, people with a liver condition. If you’re pregnant, you’re advised not to drink alcohol.
What does 14 units look like?
One unit is 10ml of pure alcohol. Because alcoholic drinks come in different strengths and sizes, it’s not as simple as one drink equals one unit.
The weekly limit of 14 units is equivalent to around:
- Six pints of average-strength beer
- Six 175ml glasses of average-strength wine
Use Drinkaware’s calculator tool to find out how many units are in each of your drinks.
Negative effects of alcohol
If you’ve had a stroke, you may be more vulnerable to the negative effects alcohol can have.
If you’re sleeping badly, have poor balance or speech problems, alcohol could make these worse. It can also affect your memory and thinking.
Alcohol makes you dehydrated and this can make headaches worse.
Alcohol and mood
Low mood or depression is common after a stroke and is often a reason why people drink alcohol. However, alcohol can worsen mood swings and depression.
Many people like to drink because it helps them relax. Try to find other things that will help you unwind, such as exercise, relaxation sessions or complementary therapies.
If you’re feeling low or depressed, then talk to someone about it. Your GP can tell you about help and support that is available.
Reducing your risk
Discuss your levels of drinking with your stroke nurse, practice nurse or GP. If they feel alcohol could raise your risk of another stroke or TIA, they can give you advice and help you find support to cut down.
Medication
Drinking more than the recommended limits, or binge drinking, while on blood-thinning medication can raise your risk of bleeding.
Nimodipine is often given after a type of stroke due to bleeding on the brain (a subarachnoid haemorrhage). Drinking alcohol while taking nimodipine can lead to headaches and dizziness.
Some other types of medication can also interact with alcohol, so check with your pharmacist whether you can drink alcohol.
Can alcohol protect me against stroke?
The idea that moderate drinking, such as a glass of red wine a day, could protect you against a stroke or heart attack has been around for some time.
But more recently, evidence has started to tell us that the less you drink, the lower the overall risk to your health. So, it's best to stay within the guidelines on low-risk-drinking.
If you have a problem with drinking
If you feel you may be drinking too much or you cannot control your drinking, it’s especially important to talk about it. Consider seeking help if you are:
- often drinking more than the advised limits
- struggling to do what is normally expected of you because of your drinking
- unable to remember what happened when you were drinking
- a friend or family member has told you they think you should cut down
Help is available through your GP and there are local alcohol support groups in many areas. To talk to someone about your drinking, contact the free national alcohol helpline, Drinkline, on 0300 123 1110. The NHS also has information on more ways to get support.
Speaking to others in a similar situation could also be helpful. You can meet other stroke survivors through our network of clubs and groups or have a weekly call with one of our trained volunteers, who have lived experience of stroke.
You can also contact our Stroke Support Helpline for help and information. Call us on 0303 3033 100, from a textphone 18001 0303 3033 100 or email helpline@stroke.org.uk.