It is normal to feel thirsty at various points throughout the day, especially after eating salty foods and after exercise. According to Heinz Valtin, M.D., a professor at Dartmouth Medical School, you will begin to feel thirsty when your blood concentration level has risen by about 2 percent. Drinking a glass of water should alleviate your thirst in most cases. If you are drinking adequate amounts of water and still feeling thirsty, you may have a health condition requiring medical evaluation.
Causes of Excessive Thirst
Your excessive thirst may be caused by something harmless and temporary or by a serious and chronic health condition. Eating a salty or spicy meal, for example, may cause a strong urge to drink. Some medications may also cause excess thirst, especially diuretics, phenothiazines and anticholinergics. More serious conditions causing thirst despite drinking enough fluids include diabetes, heart failure, kidney failure or liver problems. In some cases, a strong urge to drink can be caused by a mental problem.
Dehydration
You may become dehydrated due to exercise, a fever, having diarrhea, drinking alcohol or taking certain medications. Symptoms of dehydration include decreased urination, a dry mouth, fatigue, headache, constipation and dizziness. As dehydration progresses, you may have very dry mucous membranes, no urination at all, a lack of perspiration and rapid heartbeat. Severe cases of dehydration can cause shock, seizures, kidney failure, unconsciousness and death. Usually, drinking enough fluids is enough to prevent dehydration, but if you are ill or exercising strenuously in hot weather, you can still experience dehydration.
Diabetes
One of the first symptoms of diabetes is often excessive thirst along with producing large amounts of urine. Other symptoms of diabetes include excessive hunger, fatigue, weight loss and vision changes. Sometimes these symptoms may come on very suddenly and with no warning, according to the World Health Organization. Left unchecked, diabetes can cause damage to the heart, eyes, kidneys and other body organs. Depending on the type of diabetes, your doctor might prescribe injected or oral medications along with lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and losing weight.
When to Call the Doctor
If you have eaten salty or spicy foods, or if you feel mildly dehydrated, increase your fluid intake to see if your symptoms go away. If you have diabetes and are experiencing excessive thirst, check your blood sugar levels. If you are still thirsty for no apparent reason and are drinking enough water, you should make an appointment with your doctor. If you have any of the serious symptoms of dehydration, seek emergency medical care.
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