E75: The Truth About Gray Drinking, A Conversation with Dr. Kara Pepper

Welcome to the Get Healthy Tampa Bay Podcast with Dr. Kerry Reller! This week, I am joined by Dr. Kara Pepper, a board-certified internist and executive coach specializing in eating disorders. Dr. Pepper will share her personal journey from professional ballet dancing to medicine, her clinical practice focusing on adults, and the importance of addressing mental health among high achievers. We'll dive into the concept of gray drinking, its prevalence, and the health consequences associated with it. Dr. Pepper will discuss the impact of alcohol on cardiac and liver health, the role of stress in high achievers' susceptibility to gray drinking, and how to recognize the signs and symptoms. We'll also explore strategies to normalize non-alcoholic choices in social settings, the rise of non-alcoholic social norms, and how to approach conversations about alcohol use with patients. Finally, Dr. Pepper will provide insights on how to set a positive example for children and ways to reach out for support if needed.Dr. Kara Pepper is a board-certified Internist and Executive Coach in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Pepper cares for all adults over 18 years of age, especially those with eating disorders. Her hybrid in-person and telemedicine practice is centered around patient autonomy, clinical excellence, compassion, and connection.  In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Pepper provides executive coaching to organizations and individuals, leads retreats, and speaks nationally on topics surrounding clinician wellness.  Dr. Pepper is the podcast host of "It's Not Just You," stories of survival, humanism, and heroics in medicine.0:00: Introduction and Welcome0:28: Dr. Kara Pepper’s Background and Journey1:39: Specialties and Executive Coaching1:56: Introduction to Gray Drinking2:05: Dr. Pepper’s Personal Story with Alcohol5:05: The Concept and Prevalence of Gray Drinking8:22: Health Consequences of Alcohol Use10:24: Impact on Cardiac Health and Liver Health13:44: Stress and High Achievers’ Susceptibility15:38: Recognizing Signs and Symptoms18:10: Setting Examples and Personal Stories21:00: Normalizing Non-Alcoholic Choices27:56: How to Reach Dr. Kara Pepper and Closing RemarksConnect with Dr. PepperLinktree: https://linktr.ee/karapeppermdInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/karapeppermdWebsite: https://www.karapeppermd.com/Podcast: https://www.karapeppermd.com/Connect with Dr. RellerMy linktree: linktr.ee/kerryrellermdPodcast website: https://gethealthytbpodcast.buzzsprout.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClearwaterFamilyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/clearwaterfamilymedicine/Clearwater Family Medicine and Allergy Website: https://sites.google.com/view/clearwaterallergy/homeSubscribe to the Get Healthy Tampa Bay Podcast on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Amazon music, iheartradio, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Pandora.