After a night’s sleep, waking up feeling hungry and thirsty is a normal response as your body and brain need refueling to begin your day. However, excessive or extreme thirst and a very dry mouth sometimes indicate a physical or mental health problem. Infection, illnesses and your lifestyle and habits all contribute to waking up with a dry and thirsty mouth.
Lifestyle and Habits
Your personal habits or lifestyle can contribute to waking up with a dry mouth and thirst. Smokers and tobacco chewers often suffer from dry mouth, explains MayoClinic.com. Drinking caffeinated or alcoholic beverages in the evenings is another cause of dry mouth and thirst, as these types of drinks cause dehydration. Breathing with your mouth at night is another cause of dry mouth when you wake up. Eating a hot or spicy meal in the evening could also cause a feeling of thirst and dry mouth in the morning.
Dehydration
Dehydration causes symptoms including extreme thirst and a dry, sticky sensation in the mouth, along with sleepiness, dizziness upon standing and headache. An intense workout the day before that made you lose water through sweat could cause you to wake up with a dry and thirsty mouth. Sleeping in hot, humid weather also leads to a dry and thirsty mouth when you wake up, as loss of water from sweating and breathing can cause you to become dehydrated while you sleep. Sleeping in a hot room with many blankets also causes some people to sweat excessively during sleep, leading to thirst as a result of dehydration.
Medicine
Taking certain types of medicine before you go to bed at night is a common cause of waking up with a dry mouth and thirst. Antihistamines and decongestants used to treat colds, sinus problems and allergies cause dry mouth and thirst. Medications used to treat mental disorders including depression and anxiety also cause dry mouth in many people. Drugs used to treat chronic medical problems such as high blood pressure, Parkinson’s disease, urinary incontinence and muscular problems also cause thirst and dry mouth.
Medical Conditions
Many types of medical conditions, both acute and chronic, cause dry mouth and thirst upon awakening. A recent infection or illness such as a fever, diarrhea or sepsis can be a cause of dry mouth and thirst, particularly if the infection lasts for more than a day or two. A past injury or surgery on the nerves of your neck or head may be a cause of dry mouth and thirst. Diabetes, autoimmune disorders and some psychiatric disorders also cause symptoms including dry mouth and excessive thirst. People with Alzheimer’s disease or stroke sometimes perceive a dry mouth, even though their salivary glands produce plenty of saliva, explains MayoClinic.com.
