A longitudinal study of stress, alcohol, and blood pressure in community-based samples of blacks and non-blacks

Both alcohol use and stress appear to increase blood pressure. In addition, stress is associated with increased alcohol use. To investigate these rela tionships, researchers interviewed representative samples of the black and non-black adult household populations in Erie County, New York, in 1986, 19 89, and 1993. The results support a causal relationship between stress and alcohol use and point to a number of factors that influence this relationsh ip, Significant relationships between changes in alcohol use and blood pres sure were also found. Although the researchers found little evidence for a direct effect of stress on blood pressure, stress related to family life, a nxiety, and depression uas associated with an increased risk for hypertensi on.