How long before you can drink alcohol after a stroke?

Stroke and alcohol are compatible concepts. Moreover, the first invariably follows the second. The situation is further aggravated by such a bad habit as smoking. If a person starts smoking while drinking alcohol, the chance of developing an attack almost doubles. And if he starts drinking alcohol again, after a stroke, this can lead to a second seizure, heart attack, and even death.

According to medical research, alcoholics are four times more likely to suffer a stroke or heart attack than people who do not drink alcohol at all or take it in moderation.

What effect does alcohol have on the body?

The effect of alcohol on the body is manifested as follows: a sharp dilation of blood vessels occurs, especially in the brain, and then the same sharp narrowing. The consequences of this can be catastrophic. For example, a hemorrhagic stroke, that is, a rupture of a blood vessel in the brain, and, as a result, bleeding in the brain.

A person under the influence of alcohol cannot adequately assess his condition and consult a doctor. Consequently, he will not be provided with timely assistance. Namely, emergency care in the very first minutes and hours after a stroke guarantees that the patient will remain alive and will lead a full life in the future.

Alcohol as a cause of recurrent stroke

Alcohol is a provoking factor in the occurrence of a recurrent stroke.
In the early rehabilitation period after a stroke, any alcohol is strictly prohibited. But many are haunted by the thought: is it possible to drink alcohol after a stroke if the successful recovery period is long past? Most are still afraid of possible complications and relapses. And doctors say the threat is quite real. This is due to the fact that alcohol is the initial trigger for stroke, and since some areas of the brain are damaged and do not work normally, it is better to abstain from alcohol.

Ethanol is a fairly toxic substance. But the product of its breakdown is especially dangerous - acetaldehyde, which accumulates in the body and provokes the death of cells in a wide variety of tissues, including brain neurons. That is why people addicted to alcohol experience deterioration in memory, logical thinking and intellectual abilities. The same picture is observed in people who have suffered an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.

Even a small dose of ethyl alcohol under certain conditions can cause a recurrent stroke. In such circumstances, even if the patient escapes death, he will likely remain disabled due to muscle paralysis. Experts are of the firm opinion that alcohol and stroke are a very dangerous combination.

Alcohol is the main cause of pathology due to its effect on blood vessels and blood composition.
Alcohol causes the destruction of brain cells and neural connections between them, which inhibits recovery processes.
After a previous stroke, strong drinks can cause another attack, which can result in lifelong disability or death.

The conclusion is that drinking alcohol after a stroke is unacceptable. And even healthy people, as a preventative measure, are still advised to reduce alcohol consumption to a minimum.

Rehabilitation

Immediately after a stroke, during treatment and taking medications, you should also not drink alcohol. This can lead to the most disastrous consequences. Smokers are also advised to stop completely or at least significantly reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke. Beer should also not be combined with medications.

After the period of intensive treatment is over and rehabilitation begins, you can begin to drink a little red wine. Just a little, drink one glass (about 150 ml) once or twice a week,

It is generally accepted that after a stroke you can and even need to take red wine a little, as it helps improve blood composition and makes blood vessels more elastic. Of course, only high-quality wine produces such an effect, preferable to home-made wine and only within reasonable limits. High-quality white wine has a similar effect.

This is due to the content of natural antioxidants in good quality grape wines, which:

strengthen the walls of blood vessels;
improve brain function;
reduce blood pressure.

You should still avoid strong alcohol. This should be especially remembered by those people who suffered from alcoholism before becoming ill. In this case, you will have to stop drinking alcohol for the rest of your life.

You can drink non-alcoholic beer. And even better and, most importantly, much healthier - drink freshly squeezed juices and still mineral water.

Of course, those who drank before the stroke will find it very difficult to endure such abstinence. But if you show perseverance and say a decisive no, then your future life can become even better than what it was before the stroke.

Can alcohol be good for you?

After a heart attack or stroke, people feel differently. Sometimes such a shock to the body ends with loss of vision, hearing, speech, and paralysis. But most often, the first stroke, as a rule, passes without visible consequences.

If the patient continues to indulge in food and drink, the prognosis for his recovery will be unfavorable. That is why it is recommended to say “no” to alcohol and switch to tea therapy.

Nevertheless, standards for drinking alcohol after completing the rehabilitation period exist and are clearly stated. This is 14 grams of pure alcohol. If you take different drinks, this standard will correspond to:

350 ml of beer, whose strength is 5%;
150 ml of wine with a strength of 12%;
45 ml vodka 40%.

Moderate drinking is considered to be one drink per day for women and men. In such quantities, it may even reduce the risk of diabetes or stroke.

Drinking alcohol will be most beneficial only if it is a natural red wine of low strength. It will dilate blood vessels and have a beneficial effect on the digestive system. It is better to choose dry wine, its quality should be very high. You should categorically avoid fortified drinks.

A hypertensive drinker signs his own death warrant. Such people should give up alcohol completely; they can even drink wine no more than 8 times a month in the amount of 150 g, only then will it be beneficial:

will prevent the development of ischemia;
normalizes the consistency of blood plasma;
will reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis;
improves the condition of blood vessels.

However, in order for a drink such as wine to have a positive effect, you should consult a doctor before you start drinking it. After all, each organism is individual.

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Life after a stroke

After a stroke, treatment and rehabilitation period, life does not stop. It continues, and its quality depends on whether the person follows the doctor’s recommendations. Adhere to a healthy lifestyle or continue drinking and you will lead yourself to chronic alcoholism, even more serious illnesses and a very quick death.

Important! Drinking alcohol after a stroke, as well as smoking, is strictly prohibited.

In addition to giving up alcohol and smoking and following a proper diet, a psychological attitude towards a healthy lifestyle plays a huge role in quickly restoring a full life.

The patient must decide what is more important to him - the momentary pleasure of drinking wine or smoking a cigarette and, possibly, death in the very near future or disability, or the possibility of further fulfilling life with family and loved ones.

However, alcoholic drinks also have some benefits, of course, if you drink them in reasonable quantities.

In the process of research, scientists have proven that high-quality alcohol:

helps improve digestion;
strengthens blood vessels;
has a positive effect on the nervous system.

But this is only environmentally friendly alcohol, without the addition of preservatives, dyes and other substances hazardous to the body. And only in limited quantities - a glass of vodka or cognac, whiskey, a glass of grape wine. And even then not every day, but no more than twice a week.

Alcohol constricts or dilates blood vessels

After taking even a minimal dose of ethyl alcohol, a change in the tone of the blood vessels is observed: they become more elastic, they expand, and the blood, without meeting resistance, moves at high speed along the bloodstream. The number of heartbeats increases. The main “pump” of the human body works more actively. The pressure in the vessels drops. Blood pressure in the dilated vessels of the brain also decreases; this factor can have a beneficial effect on the condition of a patient affected by a stroke.

However, there is a big “but”. Half an hour to an hour after taking the minimum dose of red wine, beer, vodka, whiskey and other strong alcohol, the reverse process is observed. Vascular structures become stenotic, the entire circulatory system wears out:

The pressure in the bloodstream increases due to the fact that stenotic veins and arteries become hypertonic.
Drinking alcohol and increasing blood pressure lead to headaches, and headaches are only part of the problem. The heart rate remains at the same level, but the blood is not able to overcome the resistance of the narrowed arteries. Accordingly, blood pressure continues to rise. This is a direct path to a second stroke, directly provoked by alcohol.

This state after drinking alcohol persists for 7 hours. Only at the end of this period is ethanol metabolized and eliminated from the body naturally.

If the patient has consumed a large amount of alcoholic beverages (no matter red wine, vodka, beer or other products), the adrenal glands begin to work more actively. The body produces large amounts of stress hormones: cortisol, adrenaline, norepinephrine. They increase the tone of blood structures, make arteries and veins fragile, and increase capillary permeability.

Long-term use of ethanol affects brain activity, causing lethargy and decreased intelligence. Thrombosis begins.

Thus, alcohol consumption causes sharp fluctuations in vascular tone and rapid jumps in blood pressure.

Read more about the connection between alcohol consumption and headaches in this article.

Some statistics

According to recent observations by scientists and medical professionals, stroke is “getting younger.” And this is due, first of all, to the growing number of young people drinking alcohol in unlimited quantities.

In addition, alcoholic drinks have an adverse effect on the course of the disease: people who drink it experience more serious brain damage, the treatment process becomes more difficult, and subsequent rehabilitation turns out to be much more difficult.

It follows from this that drinking alcohol after a stroke greatly increases the likelihood of a second attack, which can be fatal.

Side effects

Alcoholic drinks have a number of side effects and affect the central nervous system, memory, sense of smell, taste deteriorate, the sense of responsibility decreases, and all body reactions are dulled. The liver, in turn, is forced to remove the breakdown products of ethyl alcohol. With constant consumption of alcoholic beverages in large doses, liver diseases and cirrhosis develop.

Changes also occur in the blood, blood vessels and capillaries are destroyed, blood counts change, which leads to a decrease in resistance to infections.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are directly related to the effects of alcohol. The latter has an irritating effect and leads to gastritis, ulcers and other diseases.

The pancreas produces excess insulin, which can later cause diabetes.

The production of hormones decreases, which leads to disruption of the body as a whole. Allergies, infertility, sexual dysfunction, increased levels of female hormones in men, weight gain - this is not a complete list of diseases that alcohol can cause.

About myths and fakes

There is a fairly widespread belief that the substances that make up alcoholic drinks (alkaloids) improve the composition of the blood, thin it and dissolve cholesterol plaques. Actually this is not true.

Alkoloid

If a person drinks alcohol after a stroke, irreversible consequences may occur in the body. The already disordered functioning of the internal organs will be disrupted, making the recovery process very difficult and protracted.

The vast majority of alcoholic drinks lead to an increase in blood sugar levels, this is a critical point as it can cause a jump in blood pressure.

In addition, snacks usually include foods that are far from being the healthiest, and most often even simply harmful to the body that has just suffered such a shock.

In order to process all these excesses, deliver the necessary vitamins and oxygen to the brain and blood vessels, the kidneys and liver must work, as they say, to their limits. And alcohol has already caused them severe damage, sometimes irreparable.

In addition, now the vast majority of alcoholic drinks are counterfeit, made from unknown materials and under what conditions. After all, even when buying well-known brands of alcohol, you can run into a fake in a reputable supermarket. What can we say about small village shops, various 24-hour stalls and kiosks. Very often in such establishments they do not even sell food-grade ethyl alcohol, but denatured alcohol, tinted and diluted with some kind of “chemical”. Eating these products is very dangerous even for a completely healthy person.

What is the harm?

Regular drinking can lead to serious problems. Alcohol causes:

development of cardiovascular diseases: heart disease, thinning of vascular walls; atherosclerosis, blood clot formation;
loss of control of well-being and sensations, which does not allow a person to identify the symptoms of the disease;
increased cholesterol levels in the blood, the formation of fatty plaques on the walls of blood vessels, and excess weight gain;
increased blood pressure and blood sugar, which is a factor in the development of stroke.

A person who is a patient of a neurologist knows that stroke and alcohol are a dangerous combination. These risk factors can be superimposed on an existing disease, which can trigger a stroke.

When talking about people suffering from strokes, it is worth understanding that alcohol can be the main cause of a person’s illness. But we are talking about regular alcohol consumption, which can develop into drunkenness. If we are talking about alcoholics, then this hobby can bring the disease closer by 10-15 years.

If a person who has been exposed to a stroke continues to drink after the illness, then his death may occur in 2-3 years.

Alcohol can dilate blood vessels, but over time they will begin to narrow again at lightning speed. And those who drink frequently already have problems with their blood vessels, as they dry out and become fragile.

But the worst thing for a person who has suffered a stroke is alcohol on holidays, when a person drinks a little and rarely. This happens for the following reasons:

Due to a small dose, a sharp drop in pressure can occur.
Alcohol damages blood vessels.

“How many times have they told the world…” about the dangers of excessive drinking, but a person still finds reasons, reasons and excuses and continues to drink. Meanwhile, alcohol is one of the main causes of strokes.

Moreover, regular drinking of alcohol “rejuvenates” this disease by 10 - 15 years. And such behavior after already suffering a stroke leads to death in 2 - 3 years. A drinking person loses control and cannot adequately assess his condition.

Due to insufficient blood supply, the vessels dry out and become fragile. If you subject an old, dry rubber hose to constant stress, it will very quickly become covered with cracks. The same thing happens with the blood vessels of the brain. Any load on them can cause repeated hemorrhage and end tragically.

All of the above factors are not a complete list of troubles for a person who continues to drink alcohol after a stroke.

Here are a few more points:

risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (atherosclerosis, blood clots, thinning of vessel walls, heart disease);
increased blood pressure and blood sugar, resulting in ischemic stroke;
high cholesterol, fatty plaques on the walls of blood vessels, excess weight.

All these factors, together or separately, are superimposed on existing diseases and very quickly bring a sad outcome closer.

high-quality cognac is the healthiest drink containing alcohol additives. The required daily intake is fifty grams. Daily consumption of a small amount of this drink helps improve brain performance and normalize blood pressure;
dry red wine is an excellent choice to provoke high-quality stimulation of the heart muscles and the production of additional substances in the blood. The daily amount of wine consumed should not exceed 150 grams.

What to drink, how and why to drink?

Does this mean that people with stroke are prohibited from drinking ethyl alcohol, and stroke and alcohol are incompatible? No, that's not true.

Is it possible to drink alcohol after a stroke? The answer is twofold. In the first few months, it is really better to stop drinking alcohol: there is a high risk of relapse and secondary cerebrovascular accident. During this period, active drug treatment is carried out.

You can return to drinking ethanol after six months or so. It makes no sense to completely give up alcohol, since ethanol and other components of alcoholic beverages also have a positive effect on the cardiovascular system and the body as a whole, but what?

In small quantities, ethanol, due to its ability to have a dual effect on blood vessels, trains veins and arteries (affects blood vessels). They become more elastic and quickly restore their tone.
The blood composition is normalized. It becomes more fluid.
Ethyl alcohol affects blood pressure, reducing it. However, alcohol at high blood pressure, especially if we are talking about hypertension and stage 2-3 hypertension, is absolutely contraindicated.
Alcohol products increase the body's resistance to infections and normalize the functioning of the immune system.
Lipid metabolism is normalized, ethanol fights atherosclerotic plaques.

Read also: Equipment after a stroke
Alcohol and stroke are compatible , including with high and high blood pressure (at the first stage of hypertension). But you can’t drink it right away. The factors described above are valid only for moderate consumption of ethanol and only if the alcohol is of high quality.

And here the question becomes relevant: what to drink, what alcohol can be used for therapeutic purposes and in what dosages?

Red wine. Red wine made from natural grapes, and not “recycled materials” (so-called “wine materials”) has the ability to reduce vascular tone, has a dilating effect on blood structures, and increases immunity. Fully red wine can produce the entire range of beneficial effects described above. However, you can consume no more than 20 ml (about two tablespoons) per day. Red wine contains a large number of natural components and is considered the most preferred drink, and also safe.
White wine. Has the opposite effect.
Vodka. Pure ethanol. How does vodka affect the condition of blood vessels? Unlike red wine, it is too strong and therefore dangerous for blood vessels. Vodka increases blood pressure and is not able to reduce vascular tone. You should absolutely not drink it.
Cognac. Also overly strong. It is not recommended to use it.
Beer. The drink has no beneficial properties, and causes a lot of harm, since it sharply constricts the blood vessels of the brain. Beer increases blood pressure, and vascular stenosis is possible and even probable.
Champagne. The nature of the action is identical to beer.

Not all alcohol is beneficial, and blood vessels will not always react positively to drinking alcohol.

Summarizing:

Only red wine can be consumed.
Beer, vodka, whiskey, champagne, white wine and other drinks are strictly contraindicated.

In addition, the possibility and advisability of drinking alcohol is influenced by a number of factors:

Patient's age.
Health status.
Frequency of use.
Alcohol quality.
Weight.
Floor.

Alcohol can be a good assistant in the treatment of secondary hypertension, but only after the end of the main rehabilitation period, when the body's systems have returned to normal after a stroke.

You can only drink red wine and only in moderate dosage.

Despite the above, it is recommended to consult a doctor before drinking alcohol. Much depends on the health status and characteristics of the individual patient’s body. It is possible that a stroke will become the basis for a lifelong “withdrawal” from the use of ethanol.

Many household restrictions for stroke patients are discussed in this article.

Drinking tea for stroke

The diet after a stroke includes eating whole grains, sea fish, and vegetable oils. It also includes raw vegetables and fruits, tea and multivitamins. An optimal diet recommends limiting foods containing sugar, salt and alcoholic beverages. Doctor of Medical Sciences, neurologist E.R. Lebedeva reports on studies in which tea was given to stroke patients. An analysis of 9 long-term studies concluded that if you take 3 cups of black tea a day, the risk of stroke is reduced by 21%. According to the results of studies by Chinese scientists, it was found that 1 cup of tea per week also prevents the risk of stroke.

In the acute period, weak, warm tea is allowed. Please note that black long tea increases, and green tea lowers blood pressure. Black tea with lemon does not increase, but regulates blood pressure. Milk weakens the effect of tea. For hypertension, it is recommended to use green tea. It is also useful because it lowers blood cholesterol. In case of stroke, tea has a positive effect on the blood vessels of the brain. Caffeine and vitamin P in tea dilate cerebral vessels, thereby increasing blood supply to the brain. Drinking 3 cups of tea daily speeds up the recovery of brain function after a stroke.

Is it permissible for a person who has had a stroke to drink alcohol?

A stroke is an acute circulatory disorder. In addition, a hemorrhagic attack is often accompanied by internal bleeding. The cause of this pathology is the loss of elasticity and strength in the brain vessels. An ischemic attack occurs against the background of a deficiency of oxygen and nutrients in the nerve tissues, due to a narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels. Therefore, before allowing yourself even ordinary beer, people at risk or patients after a stroke should carefully delve into the question of how alcohol products affect the human body, and how alcohol affects the body after a stroke.

Drinking alcohol after a stroke is highly undesirable

Can alcohol cause another attack?

Statistics show that alcohol intoxication can cause stroke and its recurrence. Irreversible damage develops faster if a person regularly takes large doses of alcohol, as the body becomes intoxicated.

Today there are many low-quality alcoholic beverages, the consumption of which can cause irreparable harm to health.

Juices for apoplexy

To restore brain function after a stroke, you need a complex of vitamins contained in the juice of fruits and vegetables. In the acute period, patients are given diluted orange juice. After a few days, fresh juices are allowed. During a stroke, juices containing vitamins E and B are needed. They are found in green tea and plant leaves.

It is useful for a patient after a stroke to drink freshly squeezed juices; it is usually recommended to start with orange juice

Celery and beet juice contain sodium, which regulates sodium-potassium balance. Fresh cucumber juice contains potassium and phosphorus needed by the brain. Vitamins and minerals contained in carrot juice regulate metabolic processes in brain neurons. Parsley juice, by strengthening blood vessels, restores the functions of nerve cells and improves blood flow in cerebral vessels. You can consume no more than 50.0 ml per day. Lemon juice contains vitamin C and minerals. It improves immunity and has a general strengthening effect on the body during a stroke. Juice cocktails are recommended. A mixture of juices from cucumber, beets and carrots in a ratio of 3:3:10 parts is good for the brain. A mixture of spinach and carrots in a ratio of 3:5 is also useful.

Read also: What are the risks of a stroke?

Juices should be prepared immediately before consumption.

They are taken in courses of 2 weeks. It is recommended to drink juices 3 times a day half an hour before meals. Vegetable juices should be taken 1 glass per serving. Juices from forest plants are drunk 1/4 glass three times a day.

In what situations should you not drink alcohol?

Despite the fact that scientists have established a dose that will be safe for humans, there are a number of situations that prohibit their use altogether.

Good to know: Increasing originality

It is strictly forbidden to take even a glass of alcoholic drink if:

The main thing is to remember that the problem lies not in the alcohol itself, but in the amount consumed. Not every person will be able to control himself, which poses a danger to his health.