Drinking alcohol affects blood clotting.1 Drinking a moderate amount of alcohol may have the benefit of thinning the blood and protecting against blood clots in clogged arteries, in some ways similar to aspirin. At the same time, alcohol can increase the risk of bleeding-like strokes. It will also interact with prescription anticoagulants such as Coumadin (warfarin)
Moderate drinking and health
Drinking moderately is a kind of balancing act. If you’re drinking just the right amount to be “moderate,” it may be better than not drinking at all for some health effects. But if you drink just a little above the moderate drinking guidelines, it’s far more dangerous than not drinking at all.3 Even if you hit the sweet spot, moderate drinking is a double-edged sword with some positive and some negative effects.
Precautions against drinking alcohol while taking blood thinners
You should limit alcohol consumption while taking anticoagulant blood thinners such as Coumadin (warfarin), as alcohol can potentially increase the risk of bleeding with this prescribed drug and blood thinners if you are also drinking alcohol.
Also take into account the other recipes you are taking. Sometimes they interact with blood thinners and alcohol. Follow precautions and refrain from drinking if advised.
Do not replace prescription blood thinners with alcohol
Even if you need anticoagulation to reduce health risks, it is unwise to believe that alcohol consumption is a substitute for prescribed blood thinners. If your doctor prescribes an anticoagulant such as Coumadin, your blood will be tested regularly to make sure you are receiving just the right amount of blood thinning. Too little and you are not protected; too much and you risk bleeding.4
Opposite Effects of Alcohol on Coagulation
Some studies have shown that moderate drinkers tend to have fewer heart disease but more frequent bleeding-type strokes than abstainers but at the expense of some additional bleeding strokes, “said Kenneth J. Mukamal, a researcher with numerous publications on the effects of alcohol on blood clotting and that Cardiovascular system
A word from Verywell
While moderate alcohol consumption can have some health benefits, it also comes with risks. If you don’t drink, the risk of developing other alcohol-related problems may be too great to start drinking due to its limited health benefits.
–
