Changes: Drinking behavior

Revision as of 07:05, 23 December 2008

Biological: Behavioural genetics · Evolutionary psychology · Neuroanatomy · Neurochemistry · Neuroendocrinology · Neuroscience · Psychoneuroimmunology · Physiological Psychology · Psychopharmacology (Index, Outline)

File:Cygnus olor drinking.JPG

Cygnus olor (mute swan) drinking

Drinking is an act of ingestion, the fluid intake through the mouth. Water, for example, is required for many of life's physiological processes, and excess or decreased water intake is associated with health problems.

Physiology

A daily water intake of 3-6 liters is required for the normal physiological functioning of the human body, depending on ambient weather conditions and diet (especially salt intake). The absolute minimum over the long term is about 1.6 liters (600 ml for urine, 200 ml for fecal losses, and 800 ml for losses via the skin and lungs). This includes water contained in food (i.e., it is not essential to drink 1-2 liters of water a day for survival, though it is often recommended for good health).

The sensation caused by dehydration of the body is called "thirst". The sensation of thirst is a dry feeling in the back of the throat and an intense desire to drink fluids. Thirst is regulated by the hypothalamus in response to subtle changes in the body's electrolyte levels, and also as a result of changes in the volume of blood circulating.

Role in disease

Polydipsia is the medical term for consumption of large quantities of water and may be a sign of various diseases (Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetes Insipidus, and some psychiatric conditions).

Much of the world's disease is caused by the lack of clean drinking water. Lack of water in diet will eventually cause death by hypernatremia and dehydration, particularly when sweating consumes much of the body water.

It is also possible to overhydrate, which sometimes happens with athletes who consume too much water, thereby diluting the concentration of salts in the body.

Alcohol

"Drinking" may also refer specifically to the ingestion of alcohol, depending on the context in which the term is used. Alcohol drinking patterns vary between individuals and cultures. Driving under the influence is a danger if we have been drinking too much.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{BioPsy}}
 [[Image:Lion drinking.jpg|thumb|300px|right|A [[lion]] drinking]]
-[[Image:Cygnus olor drinking.JPG|thumb|300px|right|[[Cygnus olor]] (mute swan) drinking]]
+[[Image:Cygnus olor drinking.JPG|thumb|300px|right|Cygnus olor (mute swan) drinking]]
-'''Drinking''' is the act of consuming a liquid through the mouth. [[Water]], for example, is required for many of life's physiological processes, and excess or decreased water intake is associated with health problems. "Drinking" may also refer specifically to the ingestion of [[Alcoholic beverage|alcohol]], depending on the context in which the term is used.
+'''Drinking''' is an act of [[ingestion]], the [[fluid intake]] through the mouth. [[Water]], for example, is required for many of life's physiological processes, and excess or decreased water intake is associated with health problems.
 ==Physiology==
-A daily intake of 3-6 liters of water is required for the normal physiological functioning of the human body, depending on ambient weather conditions and diet (especially salt intake). The absolute minimum over the long term is about 1.6 liters (600 ml for urine, 200 ml for fecal losses, and 800 ml for losses via the skin and lungs). This includes water contained in food (i.e., it is not essential to drink 1-2 liters of water a day for survival, though it is often recommended for good health).
+A daily [[water intake]] of 3-6 liters is required for the normal physiological functioning of the human body, depending on ambient weather conditions and diet (especially salt intake). The absolute minimum over the long term is about 1.6 liters (600 ml for urine, 200 ml for fecal losses, and 800 ml for losses via the skin and lungs). This includes water contained in food (i.e., it is not essential to drink 1-2 liters of water a day for survival, though it is often recommended for good health).
-The sensation caused by dehydration of the body is called "thirst". The sensation of thirst is a dry feeling in the back of the throat and an intense desire to drink fluids. Thirst is regulated by the [[hypothalamus]] in response to subtle changes in the body's [[electrolyte]] levels, and also as a result of changes in the volume of blood circulating.
+The sensation caused by dehydration of the body is called "[[thirst]]". The sensation of thirst is a dry feeling in the back of the throat and an intense desire to drink fluids. Thirst is regulated by the [[hypothalamus]] in response to subtle changes in the body's [[electrolyte]] levels, and also as a result of changes in the volume of blood circulating.
 ==Role in disease==
@@ Line 16: / Line 17: @@
 It is also possible to [[Water intoxication|overhydrate]], which sometimes happens with athletes who consume too much water, thereby diluting the concentration of salts in the body.
-==Vessels==
+==Alcohol==
+"Drinking" may also refer specifically to the ingestion of [[Alcoholic beverage|alcohol]], depending on the context in which the term is used. [[Alcohol drinking patterns]] vary between individuals and cultures. [[Driving under the influence]] is a danger if we have been drinking too much.
-[[Image:Glass-of-water.jpg|thumb|100px|A glass containing water]]
-Drinking vessels may include [[glass]]es, [[cup]]s, [[bottle]]s, canteens, and [[Bowl (vessel)|bowls]].
-[[Image:Infant.jpg|thumb|left|150px|An [[infant]] being fed by bottle]]
-Fewer skills are required for drinking from a [[baby bottle]] or a cup that has a lid with a nozzle. Therefore, these are useful for small children and people with some [[disabilities]]. If neither [[eating]] nor drinking are possible, some alternatives are [[Route of administration#Enteral|enteral]] [[nutrition]] and [[parenteral nutrition]].
-==Alcohol==<!-- This section is linked from [[Spencer Tracy]] -->
-"Drinking" is also used as a [[synonym]] for the consumption of [[alcoholic beverage]]s. Additionally, having "thirst" or being "thirsty" can [[Metonymy|metonymically]] express a desire for alcohol.
 ==See also==
+*[[Animal drinking behavior]]
-*[[Drink]]
+*[[Beverages (nonalcoholic)]]
-**[[Alcoholic beverage]]
+*[[Diets]]
+*[[Sucking]]
 *[[Swallowing]]