We've known for quite a while that drinking alcohol increases blood pressure. But French researchers wondered whether the pattern of drinking made any difference. So they compared the blood pressure of more than 5,000 French people who drink consistently throughout the week (with a slight increase on the weekends) to the BPs of nearly 1400 people in Northern Ireland, who do two-thirds of their drinking on Fridays and Saturdays.

The researchers found higher BP levels in the Northern Irish drinkers; levels peaked on Monday and decreased until Thursday. BP levels in the French drinkers were steady throughout the week, as were those in non-drinkers.

The study's authors concluded that "binge-drinking patterns" lead to harmful consequences in BP levels.

Related information: Lifestyle changes - Alcohol | Risk factors - Controllable risks

Source:  Marques-Vidal P, Arveiler D, Evans A, et al. Different alcohol drinking and blood pressure relationships in France and Northern Ireland. Hypertension, Dec. 2001;38:1361. (Abs.)