The benefits of drinking water are multiple and are a healthy habit, however when its intake is due to a constant feeling of thirst, you must pay attention, because it can be a symptom of a problem in the body. Thirst occurs when our body needs to replace the fluid it has lost, either from heat, from doing some physical effort or from consuming very salty foods. Excessive thirst is medically known as polydipsia. At FastlyHealwe will give you an answer to why I am always thirsty .
Table of Contents
Dehydration
Dehydration can be caused by excessive sweating, due to physical exertion, or weather effects. Another reason why dehydration appears is to have had vomiting or diarrhea, which in addition to causing excessive thirst , will generate dry mouth and lack of energy. Dehydration becomes severe the moment your heart rate accelerates, you don’t feel like urinating, your skin loses elasticity, and your blood pressure drops. In this case you should consult your doctor immediately. Drink 2 liters of water a day to avoid dehydration of your body.
Mellitus diabetes
The mellitus diabetes refers to elevated levels of blood sugar and one of the most common symptoms are thirst , as well as frequent urination. What happens in this case is that due to the high levels of glucose, the kidneys must work excessively to eliminate it, having to produce more urine, which will cause it to eliminate more fluid and you have the need to drink water to replace it.
Diabetes insipidus
It is not related to diabetes mellitus and is related to a disorder in the antidiuretic hormone, which controls the amount of water that is eliminated in the urine. It is not a very common disease, but it is an answer to why I am always very thirsty , what happens in this condition is that the kidneys cannot concentrate the urine and large amounts of diluted urine are eliminated. You should visit an endocrinologist to make the diagnosis and can prescribe the appropriate treatment, depending on the type of diabetes insipidus you have. Generally, it is controlled by vasopressin injections or other presentations of the same drug, in case diabetes insipidus is nephrogenic, treatment will be carried out in conjunction with anephrologist.
Psychogenic polydipsia
It is an alteration that is characterized by being constantly thirsty , without a physiological stimulus and that leads the patient to consume large amounts of water. It is common for it to appear in people who have a mental disorder , especially those who suffer from schizophrenia, but it is also related to emotional problems such as anxiety , personality disorders, anorexia nervosa or alterations in the hypothalamus, which is responsible for the feeling thirsty. In this case, it is necessary to treat the mental disorder and apply the medication that the psychologist deems necessary.
Other causes
There are other causes for which excessive thirst can occur , and we will detail them below:
- Take diuretic medications.
- Infections or burns.
- Consume foods such as caffeine or very salty foods.
- If you have any type of allergies and you usually breathe through your mouth.
- Elevated calcium levels in the body.
- Low potassium levels.
- Peritonitis or inflammation of the membrane that lines the inner part of the abdomen.
- Hyperparathyroidism, when the gland that controls vitamin D and phosphorous levels is overproduced.
- Heart or kidney failure.
Diagnosis of excessive thirst
Excessive thirst is not a disease , but a symptom that should cause an alarm in your body. To diagnose this condition, a fluid deprivation test will be performed , in which the patient’s fluid intake will be eliminated for a few hours, in this way the concentration of water found in the urine will be seen. In a normal patient the amount of urine would be less and in a higher state of concentration. In addition, urine and blood tests will be done.
Although being thirsty seems irrelevant, it is necessary to pay attention because it can be a sign of a severe health condition, do not underestimate it and consult your family doctor about these symptoms.
When to contact the doctor?
You need to visit your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:
- The thirst is continuous and inexplicable.
- Thirst is accompanied by other symptoms such as fatigue and blurred vision .
- The daily urine volume is high, (more than 5 liters a day).
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Why I’m Always Thirsty , we recommend that you enter our Endocrine System category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.