Reasons Why Excessive Thirst Could Be a Sign of an Underlying Problem
According to Stefani Sassos, MS, RD, CDN, registered dietician in the Good Housekeeping Institute, the rule of thumb in the amount of water a person should consume in a day is half his/her body weight in ounces of water. For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, you'll want to aim for about 80 oz or around 10 cups of water a day.
If you find yourself unable to quench your thirst despite consuming the appropriate amount of fluids in a day, there may be a bigger underlying issue at hand. Although it is customary to drink more water when exposed to hot weather or working out, having to deal with excessive thirst throughout the day may necessitate a trip to the healthcare provider.
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A condition known as polydipsia, or an excessive thirst, indicates a pathology that is different from dehydration. According to Ron Weiss, M.D., assistant professor of clinical medicine at Rutgers' New Jersey Medical School.
Possible Reasons for Excessive Thirst
1. Diabetes
One known symptom of diabetes is polydipsia or excessive thirst.
When you have this disease, the lack or reduced amount of insulin being produced by the body causes sugar build-up. Glucose in urine draws in more water, which causes polyuria (peeing often). This will leave the body wanting to replace lost fluids.
2. Bad case of dry mouth
Taking a new medication may cause side-effects like dry mouth. Other medical conditions like nerve damage in the head and neck area can also cause dry mouth, mistaken for thirst. When the saliva produced by the salivary glands located in the mouth is not enough to keep the mouth wet, it can lead to dry mouth or xerostomia. Chewing sugar-free gum or taking frequent sips of water can help relieve these symptoms.
3. Hormonal problems
A hormonal condition known as diabetes insipidus triggers an imbalance of fluids in the body. The body lacks antidiuretic hormone (ADH), making the kidneys unable to control the amount of water in the body. This results in passing an abnormally large volume of diluted and odorless urine than can lead to dehydration. One of the major symptoms of this condition is excessive thirst.
4. Dehydration
Dehydration happens when the body is using or losing more fluids than it can take in. If fluid replacement is not done, it can lead to dehydration.
Dehydration can occur among any age groups but is more dangerous among young children and older adults. Although mild and moderate cases of dehydration can be reversed with simple fluid replacement, severe dehydration needs immediate medical attention.
How to Quench Your Thirst
Thirst is your body's way of telling you that it needs more fluids. On regular occasions drinking more water is one way to quench your thirst. However, if the urge is constant, it is vital to identify the real cause behind it. As most conditions that cause thirst are treatable, it is best to consult with a doctor rather than silently living with it.
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Sep 28, 2020 07:00 AM EDT
