Alcoholism and Health
A drink is any liquid meant for human consumption intended for consumption by people. In addition to their primary function of quenching thirst, beverages also play various important roles in contemporary society. Common varieties of beverages include coffee, soda, tea, orange juice, milk and other cold drinks. There are many other liquids, however, that may be consumed with the food we eat and in other ways.
One of the oldest examples of a beverage that we have evidence for is water. From earliest recorded times, people from all over the world seem to have known how to make a drink out of water. The etymology of the word “water” points to the Greek word hydro meaning watery. It is therefore not surprising that the word “water” eventually came to refer to any liquid that contains or washes down water. In fact, there are numerous words that describe liquid that has water in it, including agate, aqua, aquamarine, bladderwrack, blue-green algae, bubbly, fastin, fordid, fog, heartwood, limewater, mead, mist, nephrite, nectar, rainwater, sandalwood, seltzer, strawberry, sunflower, wheat grass and wheat.
The word “drink” comes from the Latin verb drinkre, which means “to drip or spill over”. This verb has various meanings depending on the tense in which it is used. For example, drink is used to refer to a liquid which was drunk quickly and frequently; i.e., ale, beer, whiskey, wine, cider and wine vinegar. It is also used to refer to something that had been drunk or something used as a beverage. We use the word “drink” to refer to any liquid that was drunk quickly and was then either absorbed into the bloodstream or evaporated from the system.
Drinks like coffee, cocoa, chocolate, fruit juices, and others were once simply called “tea” or “water”. Modern people usually use “drink” and “alcohol” interchangeably. Some people who are alcohol or drug dependent may even refuse to drink alcoholic beverages. Others have a hard time consuming any liquid at all, even water! For these individuals, drinking alcoholic beverages is usually like putting up a fight against their own body.
Consumption of alcoholic beverages may seem to be a harmless pastime or recreational activity, but its adverse effects can have serious consequences. Many individuals develop problems with alcoholism over time. This is because the amount of alcohol consumed increases without the individual’s knowledge. Drinking too frequently can lead to increasing the risk of developing health problems, including cancer, depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, stroke, and other serious medical conditions. Drinking to excess can also have detrimental affects on an individual’s performance at work and school, their social relationships, and their physical health.
It is important for everyone, especially those who drink heavily, to limit their intake of alcohol. One of the most effective ways to limit your alcohol consumption is to reduce the amount you consume during meals. The logic behind this is simple: if you are drinking two drinks a day instead of one, chances are that you are not drinking enough to meet your needs, thus, you are not consuming enough alcohol to meet your needs. If you feel that you are having problems with your alcohol consumption, it is time to visit a medical professional and make an appointment for a complete physical exam. At this time, the physician can determine whether there is an alcohol problem causing your symptoms or if you have some other health concern that requires attention.