Dar es Salaam, Jan. 4 -- MANY people use Dry January as an opportunity to reexamine their relationship with alcohol, and end up noticing health perks they didnt expect.

Its common to have better sleep and more energy, but one lesser known benefit is how a month without alcohol can affect your blood pressure.

We asked our chief medical officer, Sohaib Imtiaz, MD, what happens to your blood pressure when you stop drinking for a month.

*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Q: How does participating in Dry January affect your blood pressure?

Imtiaz: Alcohol affects blood pressure both short-term and long-term. Within hours of consuming more than three drinks, your blood pressure falls for about 12 hours.

Then, it in...