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June 19, 2024/Daily Health Stories

Reasons to Drink Less this Patio Season

Although it may be tempting to enjoy a beer or cocktail outside on a nice day, an addiction psychiatrist goes over why you should limit your alcohol this patio season.

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CLEVELAND - With summer here, patio season is officially in full swing.

And while it may be tempting to enjoy the weather with a beer or glass of wine, it’s important to be mindful of how much you’re drinking.

“Drinking is really engrained in our culture, and we see a lot of it especially in the summertime,” said Akhil Anand, MD, addiction psychiatrist for Cleveland Clinic. “I encourage everyone to try their best to reduce their drinking consumption because of the medical, mental and social consequences of it.”

Dr. Anand stressed alcohol has been found to contribute to more than 200 health conditions.

In fact, it’s tied to an increased risk for several types of cancer and can lead to other chronic conditions like liver and heart disease as well as stroke.

Dr. Anand added drinking may make you feel good in the moment, but it can ultimately cause long-term mental health issues like anxiety and depression.

Alcohol can also impact the quality of your sleep by disrupting your overall sleep cycle.

If you do decide to drink this patio season, Dr. Anand said moderation is key and recommends keeping a few things in mind.

“Alternate between drinking alcohol and water and make sure you have a good meal before because drinking on an empty stomach is very hazardous. There are also apps you can now use to track your drinking,” Dr. Anand said.

Although it’s safest to avoid alcohol altogether, it’s recommended men should not have more than two drinks in a day, and women should not have more than one drink in a day.

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Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 81,000 employees worldwide are more than 5,743 salaried physicians and researchers, and 20,160 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,690-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 276 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2023, there were 13.7 million outpatient encounters, 323,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 301,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 132 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.

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