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When you feel thirsty, the reason is usually clear: you are not consuming enough H2O. But your mouth turning into the Sahara desert can also hint that you may have some kind of health problem. Any sensation that changes your water or salt balance in your body can make you thirsty. If you are following normal hydration practices (your urine should be in the light yellow to clear range) but still feel dehydrated, then you should see a doctor right away.
What is thirst?
Polydipsia is a term used for excessive thirst and is one of the first symptoms of diabetes. This is usually accompanied by temporary or prolonged dry mouth. We all get thirsty at different times during the day. Adequate daily water intake is very important as it is essential for the body’s existence, including the regulation of body temperature and waste disposal. However, if you feel thirsty all the time, or it is stronger than usual and continues even after you drink, then this may be a sign of some kind of body disease.
Primary polydipsia refers to excessive thirst and water consumption caused by a lack of physiological stimuli for drinking. It includes both psychogenic primary polydipsia and non-psychogenic ones, such as in patients with autoimmune chronic hepatitis, with severely elevated globulin levels. Psychogenic polydipsia is an excessive water intake seen in some patients with mental illness such as schizophrenia. This should be taken very seriously, as drinking more than the safe amount of water that can be excreted by the kidneys is, in rare cases, life-threatening because the serum sodium level is diluted to such an extent that convulsions occur, and this can provoke cardiac arrest.
Excessive fluid intake can lead to a false diagnosis of diabetes insipidus, as chronic water intake often produces diagnostic results that accurately mimic the symptoms of diabetes insipidus.
Causes of thirst
The causes of thirst can be caused by various factors. Most often, any cause is determined only with the help of specialists. Timely elimination will help to establish water balance and restore the body’s strength. The main reasons may include:
- eating salty or spicy foods;
- disease;
- physical activity;
- diarrhea;
- vomiting;
- burns;
- significant blood loss
- certain drugs, including lithium, diuretics, and some antipsychotics.
In order to accurately know the cause of dehydration and increased thirst, it is necessary to consider each factor separately. There is a big risk that a strong desire to drink water is associated with the presence of a certain disease. Thirst is the first signal that there are problems in the body and the body’s simplest reaction to diseases that we so often miss.
Diabetes
Diabetes can increase your risk of dehydration, especially if you don’t already know about it. When blood sugar levels are too high, the body puts pressure on the kidneys to produce more urine to get rid of the excess glucose. Frequent urination, another common symptom that causes thirst. This leads to the consumption of more liquid and creates a problem. If you experience excessive thirst and frequent urination, as well as other symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, fatigue, or irritability, then you should have a blood glucose test to find out if you have diabetes.
Diabetes insipidus
Although diabetes insipidus is not related to conventional diabetes, it shares the same signs and symptoms (dehydration and increased urination). The disease is characterized by a hormonal imbalance in the body that affects water absorption. Because you end up losing a huge amount of water in your urine, thirst sets in and your body tries to make up for the fluid loss. Because there are several types of diabetes insipidus and it can be caused by other conditions, your doctor will perform many tests to determine which treatment option is best for your body.
Monthly cycle
During menstruation, a woman may feel the desire to drink plenty of water – this is an absolute norm. Estrogen and progesterone levels affect the amount of fluid in the body. If we add to this the loss of blood with secretions, especially if they are copious, then the result will be a compensatory increase in thirst.
Dry mouth
Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is often mistaken for excessive thirst. This is an abnormal dryness of the mucous membranes in the mouth due to a decrease in secretion or a change in the composition of saliva. If the glands do not produce enough saliva, then this can lead to other unpleasant symptoms such as bad breath, sticky saliva. Dry mouth can be a side effect of certain medications. There are also several diseases that can cause dry mouth, so this issue should always be discussed with your doctor.
Anemia
Permanent or sudden blood loss can occur due to problems such as: heavy periods, bleeding ulcers (the most common cause of anemia). The body loses blood, the level of hemoglobin and red blood cells will drop, this happens faster than the body can make up for this loss and replace them, and therefore tries to compensate for the loss of blood, causing thirst.
Diet
Foods that are diuretic (celery, asparagus, beetroot, lemon, melon, ginger, and parsley) can make you crave water because they are diuretic and cause frequent urination. Although these foods have many health benefits, this effect must be considered as another reason to ensure that the body gets enough water.
Thirst symptoms
It’s normal to feel thirsty after eating spicy foods or doing intense exercise (especially when it’s hot outside). But, sometimes the desire to drink water is stronger than usual and does not stop even after you drink. You may experience blurred vision and fatigue, symptoms of excessive thirst that can signal a serious illness.
Other important symptoms may include:
- constant desire to drink water;
- inability to quench thirst even with heavy drinking;
- frequent urination;
- blurred vision;
- dizziness and confusion in the head.
When to seek medical help?
To stay healthy, you need to drink fluids regularly throughout the day. You can increase your water intake with fluid-rich foods such as celery, watermelon, tomatoes, oranges, and melons.
A good way to know if you’re getting enough fluid is to test your urine. If it’s light-colored and doesn’t have a strong odor, you’re probably getting enough liquid. Every organ, tissue and cell in your body needs water. It helps the body maintain a normal temperature, lubricate and cushion the joints, protect the spinal cord, and rid the body of sweat, urine, and feces. Remember that you should drink more fluids when you are outside in hot weather, if you have diarrhea or vomiting, or if you have a fever. If you are unable to replenish the fluid you are losing, your body can become dehydrated, resulting in a significant drop in sodium levels in the blood and can trigger seizures (especially if this process develops quickly).
Thirst is your body’s way of telling you that your body is low on fluid. Under normal conditions, you should quickly quench it. However, if your urge to drink remains constant or doesn’t go away after drinking, it could be a sign of a serious health problem, especially when combined with other symptoms. You should consult your doctor if your thirst is too strong, no matter how much you drink per day. It is also worth going to a specialist if you have thirst and frequent dizziness, severe hunger, or sores that do not heal. If you are urinating more than before, then this is one of the reasons to visit a doctor.
To determine the cause of excessive, unquenchable thirst, your doctor will ask you for a complete medical history, including any previously diagnosed conditions. Be prepared to list all medications and supplements you take. Some questions your doctor might ask include: how long ago did you know about your symptoms, do you also urinate more than usual, did your symptoms start slowly or suddenly. All this will help in identifying factors and treating persistent thirst.