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Thirst - excessive
Definition:
Excessive thirst is an abnormal feeling of constantly needing to consume fluids. Alternative Names:
Increased thirst; Polydipsia; Excessive thirst Text Continues Below
Considerations:
Drinking lots of water is usually healthy. However, the urge to drink excessively beyond a certain limit may reflect an underlying disease, either physical or emotional. Excessive thirst may be a symptom of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and can be an important clue in detecting diabetes. Excessive thirst is a fairly common symptom and is often the reaction to fluid loss during exercise or intake of salty foods. Common Causes:
- A recent salty or spicy meal
- Excessive loss of water and salt (possibly due to water deprivation, profuse sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting)
- Diabetes mellitus
- Diabetes insipidus
- Drugs such as anticholinergics, demeclocycline, diuretics, phenothiazines
- Bleeding enough to cause a significant decrease in blood volume
- Loss of body fluids from the bloodstream to the tissues due to:
- Conditions such as severe infections (sepsis) or burns
- Heart, liver, or kidney failure
- Psychogenic polydipsia
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