"Because excess alcohol intake clearly increases blood pressure, many men with hypertension are counseled not to drink," said Joline Beulens, lead author of a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, "but our results suggest that may not be necessary if men drink safely and responsibly." Beulens is a PhD-fellow at TNO Quality of Life and Wageningen University, the Netherlands.

The research if the first to explore whether men with high blood pressure who consume moderate amounts of alcohol are more likely to experience heart attacks than men with high blood pressure who abstain from alcohol. The findings suggest not only that the risk is not greater for moderate drinkers, but also that it might be reduced, according to Beulens.

Hypertension, which affects some 65 million people in the United States, is associated with a twofold increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death. Previous studies have shown that moderate consumption of alcohol, up to a limit of one to two drinks a day, may decrease the risk of CVD and total mortality -- perhaps by increasing levels of good cholesterol and preventing blood clots.

Drinking more than two drinks a day, however, may increase the risk of hypertension.

Only male healthcare professionals participated in the study, so it is not known whether the findings apply to women or to men who work in other fields.