Giving up alcohol appears to increase both sensitivity to salt and blood pressure.

It's already known that heavy alcohol consumption increases blood pressure. But researchers in Italy now reveal that giving up drinking can cause long-lasting salt sensitivity - a known health risk - as well as a blood pressure increase.

They looked at a group of 18 patients in hospital for to detoxify from alcohol. During the first eight days of withdrawal, blood tests revealed high sodium levels - indicative of salt sensitivity - weight gain, and raised blood pressure. Such changes persisted for several months, despite switching the volunteers to a low-salt diet.

The researchers are not sure whether sodium sensitivity is a genetic trait more likely to be found among those who abuse alcohol. Another explanation is that drinking too much may lead to salt sensitivity, although it is not known what the mechanism for this might be. The study suggests it could be very important to limit both salt and alcohol in an attempt to keep blood pressure under control.

Source

Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research December 2002