Since vitamin K can reverse this medication’s effects, it’s important to eat the same amount of foods that have vitamin K each week. That can be hard to keep track of, so many doctors will tell you to avoid them to make it simpler. If you drink, ask your doctor if it’s OK for you to have alcohol and how much is too much. An occasional drink is probably fine, but it’s best to be sure. If you accidentally miss a dose of your blood thinner, ask your doctor what you should do.

Okay, but can you switch medications to make it safer to imbibe? Even with treatment, managing thrombocytopenia means being on the lookout for signs that your platelet levels have dropped. If you have high blood pressure, you should do your best to avoid alcohol. Light drinking (one or two drinks) blood thinners and alcohol can lower your blood pressure, but that doesn’t mean it’s good for you. Alcohol doesn’t lower your blood pressure by a significant amount. Many of the studies that make this claim do not consider other lifestyle choices, like diet and exercise, which have a much bigger impact on blood pressure.

Can You Drink Alcohol on Blood-Thinning Medication?

Treating thrombocytopenia often means treating the condition causing thin blood. For example, if the drug heparin is causing your platelet count to drop too low, your doctor may recommend you switch to a different anti-platelet drug. If alcohol use is a factor, you may be advised to reduce or avoid alcohol consumption entirely. Not only that, some people experience an increase even after one or two drinks because their body processes alcohol differently. There are too many variables to make a blanket statement that alcohol is good for your blood pressure.

For men under age 65, up to two drinks a day is considered moderate. When you’re injured, blood cells called platelets rush to the injury site. Platelets also release proteins called clotting factors that form a plug to close the hole.

Long-Term Cardiovascular Health Concerns of Alcohol

First and foremost, mixing the medication with alcohol can lead to blood that’s too thin. Another issue is that the side effects of the medication can become worse. You may also be on blood thinners if you have atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat), a mechanical heart valve, or a condition where your blood clots too much (thrombophilia). If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol addiction, professional treatment at a licensed rehab facility can help. The Recovery Village Ridgefield is a premier addiction treatment center in Ridgefield, Washington, that offers detox, inpatient and outpatient programs for alcohol use disorders. Reach out to one of our understanding team members today to learn more about how we can help you achieve a healthier, alcohol-free life in recovery.

This is doubly dangerous, as you are more likely to have an injury while intoxicated and are at higher risk for severe bleeding. It can make your blood too thin and lead to hemorrhages, stroke, and if not treated, death. Drinking alcohol is also not recommended before surgery because of its https://ecosoberhouse.com/ blood-thinning effects. You could possibly bleed more during surgery if you were to drink 24 hours before. Ignoring this medical advice could cause complications during the procedure. Having more than three alcoholic beverages a day can put you at a higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

Alcohol Addiction or Physical and Psychological Dependence

The review authors highlighted that previous research has suggested drinking significant amounts of alcohol every day has links to a higher risk of developing high blood pressure. They also discussed studies that indicated higher levels of alcohol consumption have associations with an increased risk of stroke, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure. However, people should not consume alcohol instead of taking medications as a healthcare professional has prescribed. Additionally, a person should discuss whether they are able to consume alcohol while taking blood thinners, as alcohol may interact with some medications and lead to side effects. Blood thinners are medications given to people with a high risk of dangerous levels of blood-clotting.