Do you also feel thirsty all the time? (Polydipsia) Let's find out exactly what causes this!

Sometimes we feel very thirsty. It's very common for us to feel thirsty after a hard workout or on a hot day. It's a signal from our body, saying, "I'm thirsty, give me some water." But do you always feel thirsty, no matter how much water you drink? Then it's not normal. It could be a sign of another health problem inside your body.

What is dehydration?

Simply put, dehydration is when your body doesn't have enough water to function normally. The main symptom is thirst . Dehydration can occur for many reasons, including exercise, diarrhea , vomiting , and excessive sweating .

Imagine that after a good workout, or when you have a stomach ache and are vomiting and having diarrhea, you feel very tired, right? At that time, you definitely need to drink more water . If you don't, you can become dehydrated.

In addition to thirst, see if you have any of these symptoms:

• Urine turns a dark yellow/orange color.
• Decreased frequency of urination.
• Dry mouth and lips.
• Dry skin.
• Extreme fatigue and dizziness .
• Headache .

If a young child becomes dehydrated, they may also show these symptoms:

• When you cry, there are hardly any tears left.
• Dry, sticky mouth.
• Decreased frequency of urination or decreased number of wet nappies.
• The child is constantly restless and lethargic.

The relationship between diabetes and thirst

If you have an insatiable thirst for water that won't go away no matter how much you drink, it could be a major symptom of diabetes. Doctors call this condition Polydipsia . If you have diabetes, your body doesn't produce enough of the hormone insulin, or it doesn't use it properly. This causes your blood sugar (glucose) levels to rise unnecessarily.

Other medical conditions that can cause excessive thirst

Diabetes Insipidus

Despite the name, this is not related to the diabetes we all know. It occurs when our kidneys don't produce enough of a hormone that helps control the amount of water in the body. The main symptoms are excessive thirst and frequent urination.

Dry Mouth

When the glands inside your mouth produce less saliva, your mouth may become dry and you may feel thirsty all the time. This can be caused by:

• Some medications you take.
• Treatments for other diseases, such as cancer.
• Conditions such as Sjögren's syndrome.
• Tobacco use.

Anemia

This is when the body's number of healthy red blood cells decreases. If anemia becomes severe, you may feel extremely thirsty. Along with this, you may also experience symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and pale skin.

Hypercalcemia

This means that your blood calcium level is higher than normal. This can be caused by overactive parathyroid glands (hyperparathyroidism), diseases such as tuberculosis or sarcoidosis, and some types of cancer. In addition to thirst, symptoms such as stomach upset, nausea, bone and muscle pain, and frequent urination may also occur.

Excessive thirst during pregnancy

Feeling very thirsty and needing to urinate frequently during pregnancy is normal. It's nothing to worry about. However, sometimes this can be a symptom of gestational diabetes, a condition that only occurs during pregnancy. Therefore, if you are pregnant and have these symptoms, it is very important to inform your doctor .

When should we see a doctor?

The answer depends on what's causing your thirst. Drinking more water is a good start. But if your thirst isn't quenched by eating water-rich foods like cucumbers and drinking plenty of water, don't ignore it. Especially if you have other symptoms like these along with excessive thirst, be sure to see your doctor:

• Frequent need to urinate.
• Feeling tired and hungry all the time.
• Wounds on the body take longer to heal.

These symptoms could be signs of a medical condition that needs to be treated, such as diabetes. Remember, many conditions that cause thirst can be successfully treated and cured.