[Alcohol and arterial hypertension].

The positive association between alcohol consumption and arterial pressure has been shown in several epidemiological surveys. This strong relationship has been demonstrated in many countries, independent of the known risk factors for hypertension; the dose-response appears to be linear in most studies. The lowering of blood pressure after stopping alcohol consumption and its rise after starting to take alcohol again are good evidence of a causal relationship. The pathophysiology of the hypertensive effect of alcohol is uncertain. Alcohol consumption seems to be a factor to be taken into account in the prevention and treatment of hypertension.