Doctors often refer to abnormal thirst as ‘polydipsia’.
Thirst is the brain’s warning mechanism that you’re dehydrated because your body doesn’t have enough fluids. You should be able to quench your thirst and restore the fluid balance in your body after having a glass or two of water. But if you feel like you drink enough water but still struggle to keep the thirst away, then read on as there are a few potential culprits.
You’re not drinking your daily recommended amount
The most obvious reason of course would be that you aren’t drinking enough water. The classic recommendation is that each person needs six to eight glasses of water a day. How much water you actually need though differs from person to person. So just stopping at six glasses a day, while better than only drinking two glasses a day, still might not be enough for you.
Also, while it may seem like you’re drinking all the time, it might not be as much as you think. So keep track of how much water you are drinking.
Remember that coffee, tea and alcohol don’t count as they dehydrate – rather than hydrate. In fact you may have to drink extra water to compensate for these drinks. So at work, instead of having regular coffee breaks, make the habit of drinking a glass of water from a desktop water cooler.
Medication
Chronic thirst and a dry mouth can also be a side effect of certain medications, like anti-depressants, decongestants, antihistamines or diuretics (water tablets), because they can affect the production of the saliva glands or cause you to excrete more water than usual. Look at the side-effect profile of any medications you are using. If that’s where the problem lies you may need to compensate by increasing your daily intake of water, or if that doesn’t work, switch medications.
Other causes
Perhaps there is too much salt in your diet. Your sodium levels may be too high, especially if you eat a lot of processed food.
In women, feeling thirsty can also be one of the symptoms of pregnancy. This is because of hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy.
If you’re exercising strenuously, you may not be compensating for fluid loss.
If the problem you’re having is dry mouth specifically, the cause may be anxiety.
Diabetes
If you drink enough water, but none of the above mentioned causes seem applicable, then your excessive thirst could be a sign of diabetes. Diabetes, especially the more-common Type 2 variety, is a major contributor to chronic thirst.
If that is the culprit, however, it will usually be accompanied by other symptoms as well: tiredness, wounds healing slowly, unexplained weight loss, irritability and frequent urination.
Your GP will need to carry out a blood glucose test to see whether you have diabetes. As always, however, consult your GP before making major medical choices and use this as a basic guide to try and aid you.
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