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| Definition: |
An abnormal feeling of constant thirst.
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| Alternative Names: |
Increased thirst; Polydipsia; Excessive thirst
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| Considerations: |
Drinking lots of water is usually healthy. However, the desire to drink excessively beyond a certain limit may reflect an underlying disease, either physical or emotional.
Excessive thirst can be an important clue in detecting diabetes. There are thousands of diabetics in the U.S. who are either undiagnosed or inadequately treated.
Excessive thirst, a fairly common symptom, is often the reaction to fluid loss during exercise or intake of salty foods. |
| Common Causes: |
- excessive loss of water and salt (as with water deprivation, profuse sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting)
- a recent salty, spicy meal
- diabetes or diabetes insipidus
- drugs including anticholinergics, demeclocycline, diuretics, phenothiazines
- bleeding enough to cause a significant decrease in blood volume
- loss of body fluids from the bloodstream to the tissues
- can occur with conditions such as severe infections (sepsis) and with burns
- heart, liver or kidney failure
- psychogenic polydipsia
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| Home Care: |
Because thirst is usually the body's way of replacing water loss, it is usually advisable to drink plenty of liquids.
For compulsive thirst, get psychological help.
For diabetes, follow prescribed therapy to properly control blood sugar levels. |
| Call your health care provider if: |
- excessive thirst is persistent and unexplained, or accompanied by other unexplained symptoms such as blurry vision and fatigue.
- you are passing more than 5 quarts of urine a day.
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| What to expect at your health care provider's office: |
The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.
Medical history questions documenting excessive thirst in detail may include:
- time pattern
- How long has the increased thirst been noticed?
- Is the excessive thirst consistent during the day?
- Is it worse during the day?
- Did it develop suddenly or slowly?
- eating habits
- Has intake of salty or spicy foods increased?
- How much salt is eaten each day?
- Have you changed your diet?
- exercise
- Has activity level recently increased?
- other
A general physical examination will be performed, and a psychological evaluation may be recommended if compulsive thirst (of psychologic origin) is suspected. Fluid intake and output will be closely monitored.
Diagnostic tests that may be performed are:After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to excessive thirst to your personal medical record. |
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Review Date: 11/30/2001
Reviewed By: Steven Angelo, M.D. Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, Hospital of Saint Raphael, New Haven, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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