Can alcohol affect my blood pressure. I am 33-year-old female and drink an average of 3 drinks a day.

Drinking too much alcohol is not good for health. It is highly recommended that people consume less alcohol. Drinking too much alcohol cannot only increase your blood pressure but can ruin your liver and brain. If you already have high blood pressure, then you should cut back on your drinking. In general, one drink a day or about 12 ounces is fine. If you are on the heavy side, start walking since alcohol also contains many calories, which also worsens blood pressure.

I have just bought a wrist blood pressure machine but have been told that these are not as accurate as the arm device. Is this true?

Wrist blood pressure devices are readily available and offer convenience and portability. They definitely are not as accurate as the arm devices. However, if you use the device as instructed then they are fine. To ensure proper reading, measure your blood pressure in the same position each time, because wrist devices are sensitive to changes in body position. 

Next write down your blood pressure readings and compare them to what you get in the doctor’s office. If the readings are within 5-10 mm, you are doing fine. Do not be alarmed if the results are not exactly same as in the doctor's office-, sometimes it is the doctors’ machine that is crap.

Can whole grain foods lower my blood cholesterol or blood pressure? I prefer foods to drugs

Whole grains are widely hyped up to be the panacea for good health. There is some evidence that regular consumption of whole grains can lead to lowering of blood pressure and decrease blood sugars. Whole grains are foods that have not been processed and retain their fiber and bran. These foods are usually rich in potassium fiber, magnesium and a variety of other minerals. 

Evidence indicates that people who eat whole grains generally have lower blood pressure, and low incidence of diabetes. The only thing about whole grains is that they are not very palatable. The American Dietary guidelines insist that everyone eat about 90 grs of whole grains daily. Alternatively, this amounts to 3-4 slices of whole wheat bread.