Suppression of Alcohol-Induced Hypertension by Dexamethasone

Alcohol consumption is a risk factor for stroke and is associated with a higher-than-expected incidence of hypertension. 1 – 6 The underlying mechanism relating heavy alcohol consumption to cardiovascular events is unclear. 7 , 8 One potential candidate is the sympathetic nervous system. The results of plasma catecholamine measurements after the short-term ingestion of alcohol in humans are conflicting, 5 , 7 , 8 but direct recordings of sympathetic-nerve activity suggest that short-term alcohol ingestion in humans and both short- and long-term administration of ethanol in rats stimulate sympathetic-nerve discharge. 9 – 11 Moreover, in rats the alcohol-induced increases in blood pressure and sympathetic activity are centrally mediated. 12 Alcohol . . .