Constant thirst: why you often want to drink

The most common causes of excessive thirst are: excessive sweating during heat, during physical exertion, bronchitis, dehydration during diarrhea, elevated body temperature. Constant thirst occurs with a water-electrolyte imbalance. In the body, salts and liquid clearly interact. The main ions that can determine the level of salt in the blood plasma are potassium and sodium. As for the negatively charged ions - anions that determine the saline composition of the tissue fluid, they include chlorides. The water-salt balance in the body ensures the vital activity of cells and determines the osmotic pressure in the tissues. If the water-electrolyte balance in the tissues is disturbed, constant thirst appears. What can provoke such manifestations and the occurrence of dry mouth and desire to drink?

Groups of causes of constant thirst and dry mouth

There are 5 causes of water-salt imbalance in the body and, accordingly, constant thirst:

1. The process of removing fluid from the body increases.
2. The amount of fluid in the body is reduced.
3. The amount of salts in the body increases.
4. The process of removing salt from the body is reduced.
5. Thirst increases in diseases of the brain.

Reason #1 - Increased fluid excretion from the body

There are several routes through which fluid is excreted from the body:

• kidneys;
• leather;
• intestine;
• respiratory tract.

Excretion of fluid through the kidneys

Frequent urination occurs while taking diuretics or other drugs that can increase the removal of water from the body. Phytopreparations and weight loss products have a quick diuretic effect.

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Drinks that contain a lot of ethanol (beer) can also increase urine production and cause subsequent thirst.

Unquenchable thirst against the background of excessive excretion of light urine (more than one liter per day) can be a symptom of diabetes insipidus. This disease causes water incontinence in the kidneys and its rapid circulation. It is necessary to solve such a problem after consultation with an endocrinologist.

In addition, excessive urination is inherent in the following diseases: chronic glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis (acute and chronic), kidney shrinkage (primary or secondary). These ailments increase urination, the body dehydrates faster and there is a strong thirst. It is necessary to treat such conditions together with a urologist and a therapist.

During osmotic diuresis, along with salts or glucose, fluid is “washed out” of the body. For example, when glucose is lost, intense thirst also occurs, that is, during the development of diabetes. As a clue that large amounts of urine and thirst are the causes of diabetes, itching may be present.

Skin fluid loss

If the persistent thirst is due to excessive sweating and has no additional symptoms, the cause of dry mouth is excessive exercise or heat. These are harmless causes in which thirst is eliminated by a one-time replenishment of fluids.

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If excessive sweating and intense thirst are accompanied by increasing pathological symptoms and deterioration, you should immediately go for examinations. Such signs may indicate the development of thyrotoxicosis, pathological menopause, a number of endocrine diseases, Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Excretion of water through the intestines

In a situation where there is severe vomiting and frequent loose stools, a feeling of thirst will be present due to tissue dehydration. This may be a sign of diarrhea, which is a less serious disease, or an intestinal tumor, which is a more serious ailment.

Water loss through the respiratory mucosa

Dry mouth and thirst appear during mouth breathing: during rhinitis, enlarged adenoids, chronic snoring. If mouth breathing is rapid, the mouth dries up even more and you always want to drink. Breathing quickens with bronchitis or pneumonia, heart failure, or fever. Also, respiratory failure can develop against the background of cerebral oxygen starvation.

Reason 2. - Reduced fluid intake

With a lack of fluid, a person will feel dry mouth and thirst. This is a natural process if you drink very little water per day. The level of fluid in the body depends on gender, age, weight. Even the field of activity partially determines how much water a person needs to drink. On average, the body needs 1.5-2 liters of water per day, and with intensive training, in hot weather or hard physical labor, you need to drink more than 2 liters.

Reason 3. - Increases the amount of salts in the body

If you eat a lot of salty or smoked foods, salts in the body will begin to accumulate and be absorbed into the blood. As a result, the osmotic pressure in the tissues will begin to increase and the body will need to turn on protection - thirst, in order to quickly remove toxins and restore the balance between salts and water.

Reason 4. - The process of removing salt from the body is reduced

Salt retention in tissues occurs in chronic renal failure. Therefore, it is extremely important to establish the cause of salt retention in order to prevent the critical development of the disease.

Reason 5. - Impairment of brain activity

The so-called "thirst center", under the control of which the desire to drink arises or is blunted, is located in the hypothalamus. During problems with the brain, these functions are disturbed, thirst arises as a result of mental disorders, brain injuries, brain tumors.

General recommendations for severe thirst and dry mouth:

• Keep track of how much fluid you drink throughout the day.
• Reject thirst-producing drugs, foods and drinks that make you constantly thirsty.
• Consult your physician, endocrinologist or urologist for advice.
• Pass basic tests to clarify the situation: complete urinalysis and blood count, biochemical blood test, chest X-ray and ECG.
• Further clarification of the causes of constant thirst should be after the results of the main tests.

Thirst can be a simple signal from the body that there is not enough water and needs to be replenished. But, strong and constant thirst can also serve as the first "bell" of serious electrolyte imbalance and the development of diseases. It is better to consult a specialist and find out the true causes of thirst.