Increased thirst – causes, symptoms, prevention

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Increased thirst is the main symptom of fluid and electrolyte disturbances in the body, indicating the need to replenish water (fluid) shortages. It usually occurs in people whose urination exceeds fluid intake or in people who suffer from polyuria. It can affect diabetics and diabetes insipidus patients.

What is increased thirst?

Increased thirst (polydipsia) is a condition that results in drinking large amounts of fluids (even 5-6 liters a day). You should drink a minimum of 1,5 liters of water a day, hence the feeling of thirst is a natural signal that makes us understand that our body needs water, which we lose throughout the day through sweating or by excreting metabolic products. Increased thirst is very often accompanied by an increased excretion of fluid from the body. Polydipsia usually occurs in people whose urination is significantly greater than their fluid intake, or in people who suffer from polyuria. It very often occurs in decompensated diabetes and diabetes insipidus (the most characteristic symptom is excessive thirst, polyuria and the inability to concentrate urine). The disease can also be psychological. Increased thirst should not be ignored as it indicates the existence of a disease entity. This is especially true for patients who have persistent polydipsia. Of course, this problem may appear even in completely healthy people, e.g. after increased physical exertion, on hot days or after eating very spicy and salty foods.

The causes of increased thirst

In people who are completely healthy, the problem of excessive thirst is a natural response to increased physical exertion or high ambient temperature. Then the body overheats and water is lost, so to avoid cooling down, you should replace the fluid shortage as soon as possible. Also, eating very spicy and salty foods can make you thirst. Capsaicin contained in such products stimulates pain receptors, which causes a burning sensation in the mouth that can only be quenched by a large amount of water. The problem of polydipsia can also be seen in people who consume a large amount of sweetened drinks, so the body needs water to dilute excess blood sugar.

Another equally important cause of polydipsia is excessive alcohol consumptionwhich inhibits the amount of vasopressin. This hormone is responsible for telling the kidneys to absorb water. Water that does not remain in the kidneys continues on to the bladder and is eliminated from the body. As a consequence, the body becomes dehydrated and thirst increases. Polydipsia accompanied by a feeling of dry mouth may be caused taking diureticswhich increase the volume of urine. Another less common cause may be vitamin A and D overdose.

If you often experience increased thirst, get tested. Buy now the fit & active test package – diagnostic blood tests or tests for an athlete – home blood collection. Thanks to them, you can determine your general health and check what may be the cause of the increased thirst.

Increased thirst and psyche

Increased psychogenic thirst is a condition the cause of which lies in the psyche. Very often the problem appears in young children who want to relieve stressful situations in this way. This also applies to adults, who are particularly prone to stress, which causes them to feel dry mouth and consume large amounts of fluids to get rid of it. However, this only gives a temporary improvement. Psychogenic polydipsia may occur in mentally ill people, e.g. schizophrenics, but it is not a typical symptom of this disease. The diagnosis of this disease is made only after excluding other pathologies that may be manifested by increased thirst. Treatment is based on the exclusion of stressful situations and the help of a psychotherapist.

What diseases does increased thirst indicate?

1. Endocrine diseases

1. diabetes insipidus – the cause of its occurrence is insufficient secretion of vasopressin; it is manifested by increased thirst accompanied by pollakiuria and drying of the skin;
2. diabetes – increased thirst is caused by the need to dilute sugar in the blood, the excess of which is excreted by the body with the urine ‘
3. primary aldosteronism – this is a condition characterized by excessive secretion of aldosterone, a hormone that contributes to the retention of sodium in the body and the excretion of potassium from it, which is manifested by increased thirst;
4. acromegaly – a disease the cause of which is the secretion of too much growth hormone;
5. hyperthyroidism (in addition to polydipsia, there is a constant feeling of fatigue, hot flushes, trouble sleeping, weight loss and excessive nervousness).

2. Ailments of the digestive tract

1. peritonitis – it is a condition usually caused by a bacterial infection that takes place in the peritoneal cavity; typical symptoms are high temperature and vomiting, the consequence of which is increased thirst;
2. prolonged diarrhea and vomiting – lead to dehydration and polydipsia in a short time;
3. stenosis of the pylorus and esophagus.

3. Storage diseases (genetically determined diseases caused by insufficient activity of various enzymes).

1. kidney failure – causes patients to urinate less frequently. Water retention in the body increases its salt level, which causes excessive thirst;
2. anemia – is caused by a deficiency of folic acid and iron in the body, which results in the loss of valuable elements. Their lack should be replaced by adequate hydration;
3. neurosis- characterized by an excessive need for fluid intake.

Increased thirst and pregnancy

Excessive thirst in pregnant women (more than 3 liters of fluid a day) may indicate the presence of gestational diabetes. It occurs in women who had no problems with abnormal blood sugar levels before becoming pregnant. The characteristic symptoms of this condition include: excessive thirst, frequent urination and a constant feeling of tiredness despite the lack of exercise.

Increased thirst – symptoms

Symptoms of people with increased thirst depend on the causes of the ailments. Very common occurs:

1. lower abdominal pain
2. difficulty swallowing
3. faster heart beat
4. excretion of up to 25 liters of urine per day,
5. bloody vomiting
6. tiredness,
7. low level of hemoglobin,
8. lethargy,
9. increased appetite,
10. fainting
11. diarrhea,
12. high temperature and chills.

Increased thirst – prevention and treatment

Treatment of increased thirst also depends on the causes and symptoms. Most often, a consultation with a doctor is necessary, because blood vomiting or untreated diabetes can lead to death. For people suffering from anemia, it is recommended to eat more iron-containing foods, including broccoli, potatoes or red meat. However, it is not recommended to drink coffee and tea with meals. If the patient has chills that may indicate malaria – see a specialist in tropical diseases.