Reducing Blood Pressure in Mid-life Adult Binge Drinkers

During phase 1, we will measure blood pressure, microvascular function, and sympathetic nerve activity (baseline assessment) in mid-life adult binge drinkers, alcohol abstainers, and moderate drinkers. Only mid-life adult binge drinkers will enter Phase 2 and be randomized to the exercise training group and non-exercise control group. After 8 weeks of intervention, we will re-measure blood pressure, microvascular function, and sympathetic nerve activity (post-intervention assessment) in mid-life adult binge drinkers.

Inclusion criteria

• Men and women (50-64 years of age) who do not drink alcohol, who drink at moderate levels, or who binge drink
• Female subjects will be postmenopausal (i.e., cessation of menses for ≥1 yr).
• Subjects who can speak and understand English.

Exclusion criteria

• a history of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, liver, or renal disease
• current or history of smoking and illicit drug use
• blood pressure ≥160/100 mm Hg
• other known traditional cardiovascular disease risks: obesity (BMI≥35 kg/m2), or hyperlipidemia (total cholesterol>230 mg/dl and/or LDL cholesterol>160 mg/dl)
• active infection (in the past 2 months)
• a history of seizures, cancer, or inflammatory disease (i.e., gout or rheumatoid)
• unstable body weight (>5% change during the past 6 months)
• regular aerobic exercise training (i.e., they engage in 30 min of structured aerobic exercise at least 3 times per week)
• current use of hormone replacement therapy (i.e., estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone)