Alcohol & Health
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Helping Alcoholics
Medically Reviewed by Dr P. E. Pancoast, MD
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Drinking alcohol may thin your blood by preventing blood cells from clotting (thrombosis). It may reduce your risk for strokes that blood vessel blockages cause.
However, this exact mechanism may increase your risk of bleeding from strokes. It’s especially true when you drink alcohol in large quantities.
Thick blood (hypercoagulability) stops oxygen, hormones, and nutrients from moving smoothly throughout your body. It also leads to blood clotting, which prevents you from bleeding out.
The effects of alcohol interfere with the blood clotting process. It reduces the number of platelets in the blood, partly affecting blood cell production in the bone marrow. This process makes the platelets less sticky and less likely to form blood clots.
Blood cells, called platelets, move to the injured area of the body when you’re cut or bruised. These cells are sticky and cluster together and work to stop bleeding. Platelets also deliver proteins called clotting factors that create a plug to close a wound.
Blood clotting is essential when you’re injured. However, a blood clot can sometimes develop in, or travel to, an artery that delivers oxygen-rich blood to your heart or brain.
When a blood clot blocks the blood flow to your heart, it can lead to a heart attack. If it prevents the blood flow to your brain, it can result in a stroke.
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For moderate drinkers, the blood-thinning effects of alcohol are short-lived. Alcohol leaves the bloodstream at an average rate of about 0.015 g per hour.
A man’s blood typically thins if he drinks two (two ounces of liquor) or more daily. For women, it’s one (one ounce of liquor) or more drinks a day. These amounts may vary, depending on a person’s alcohol tolerance.
If you have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 g, it will generally take about 5.5 hours to flush the alcohol from your system.8
Heavy drinking is connected to illnesses that lead to poor health, including heart conditions. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure, or stroke. It can also contribute to cardiomyopathy, which affects the heart muscle.
Misusing alcohol long-term can result in several adverse side effects. Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to chronic illnesses and other serious problems, including:
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No, doctors strongly advise against drinking alcohol on blood thinners. Doing this can increase the risk of severe bleeding due to an accident or injury.
Never use alcohol to replace blood thinners. Blood thinners are medications that prevent blood clots from occurring. Although alcohol thins your blood, drinking instead of taking medication can be dangerous.
Both alcohol and blood thinners can thin your blood. Taking these substances simultaneously could significantly increase your risk of bleeding. They can:
Always ask your doctor if it’s safe for you to consume alcohol while taking blood thinners. If you must drink alcohol while taking blood thinners, do so in moderation.
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You can thicken blood by consuming foods high in vitamin K. This fat-soluble nutrient is ideal for thickening or clotting blood. Bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract naturally create vitamin K, but it’s also present in other sources.
Plenty of vegetables are rich in vitamin K, including:
One cup of raw Brussels sprouts has around 156 micrograms of vitamin K. One cup of raw broccoli contains about 93 micrograms. One cup of raw cabbage has approximately 67 micrograms.
Besides taking in Vitamin K-rich foods, your doctor can prescribe blood-thickening medication to manage your condition.
Yes, alcohol can prevent blood clots. In small amounts, alcohol can act as an anticoagulant, reducing blood's ability to clot and causing it to start thinning.
Consuming alcohol before surgery is a significant risk because it can thin your blood. Alcohol consumption can lead to severe complications both during and after surgery. It can result in a longer hospital stay and an extended recovery time. In more severe cases, it can jeopardize your life.
Red wine contains a substance called resveratrol. This antioxidant may reduce harmful cholesterol levels and minimize the risk of blood clots.
Antioxidants, called polyphenols, may help protect the lining of blood vessels in the heart. Drinking a glass or two of non-alcoholic red wine may reduce your risk for heart disease.
Red wine can also reduce the risk of stroke from blood vessel blockages. This kind of stroke is known as an ischemic stroke. Red wine can also decrease blood pressure.6
Doctors strongly advise against using alcohol to improve blood circulation. However, some alcohol, such as vodka or red wine, has been shown to increase blood flow, nerve activity, and heart rate in small doses.7
In small doses, alcohol had a blood thinning effect to reduce blood clotting. However, it’s not a viable alternative to prescribed blood thinners.
Alcohol’s blood-thinning effects typically won’t last longer than a day, but the severity of its effects may vary. Using blood thinners and alcohol together can lead to disastrous health complications like compromising the liver and promoting excessive bleeding.
It’s best to consult your doctor about when and what you can drink while on blood thinning medication.
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