ASN: Binge Drinking May Boost Blood Pressure in Young Men

Researchers didn't find same effect in young women or teens of either sex

TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Binge drinking among young adult men may lead to hypertension, according to new research scheduled to be presented at the American Society of Nephrology's Kidney Week 2014, held from Nov. 11 to 16 in Philadelphia.

Sarah Twichell, M.D., a clinical fellow in pediatrics at Boston Children's Hospital, and colleagues analyzed information from a 2010 survey of 8,605 participants. The study volunteers were initially recruited in 1996, when the participants were 8 to 14 years old. They completed detailed surveys every one to two years for the study. Binge drinking was defined as having more than five drinks in one sitting for males and more than four in one sitting for females.

The researchers found young adult men were 70 percent more likely to develop hypertension if they binge drank frequently in the previous year. Binge drinking was not associated with a similar rise in blood pressure for young adult women or for teenagers. In fact, young adult women with light or moderate alcohol use were between 45 and 62 percent less likely to have hypertension.

"This finding parallels studies in older adult men and women," Twichell told HealthDay.

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