Table of contents:
- Often thirsty even though you have drunk a lot of fluids, a sign of polydipsia
- What causes polydipsia?
- Is polydipsia dangerous?
- Prevention and treatment of polydipsia
Usually, thirst is the first sign of dehydration. You may also feel more thirsty after exercising, eating salty foods, or when you are out in the sun for long periods of time. For cases like this, the thirst will quickly disappear after you drink fluids. However, what does it mean if you are often thirsty despite drinking a lot?
Often thirsty even though you have drunk a lot of fluids, a sign of polydipsia
Polydipsia is a condition of extreme thirst which can be condemned. You will continue to drink, drink, and drink, but still feel thirsty frequently. This condition can last for days, weeks, even longer depending on what caused it.
Apart from being constantly thirsty, someone who has polydipsia will also urinate back and forth. Usually, the normal volume of urine excreted by a healthy adult is around 3 liters per day. However, because polydipsia keeps you drinking, the volume of urine excreted can be as much as 16 liters in one day.
Other common symptoms of polydipsia include persistent dryness in the mouth, and may also be accompanied by symptoms of an underlying disease / condition.
What causes polydipsia?
Polydipsia usually presents as a symptom of an underlying medical condition, such as diabetes mellitus or diabetes insipidus, or certain psychological problems - from daily stress, ordinary boredom and anxiety, to certain mental disorders such as schizophrenia, anorexia, and mood disorders.
The tendency to keep thirsty often can also be caused by decreased levels of antidiuretic hormones in the body which cause you to urinate excessively (polyuria). If your body continues to excrete abnormal amounts of urine, it can eventually cause you to become dehydrated and continue to drink a lot, even if you don't need it.
Polydipsia can also appear as a side effect of using certain medications, such as water pills (diuretics), corticosteroids, or salt intake (ORS or IVs).
Is polydipsia dangerous?
Reporting from WebMD, drinking too much due to feelings of extreme thirst can disrupt the chemical balance in the body. Even though it will be excreted as urine, the body still cannot store very large amounts of fluid. Excessive fluid intake can also make the blood thin. This can cause sodium in the blood to decrease. This condition is called hyponatremia.
Symptoms that appear in hyponatremia are:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Cramps
- Reflex becomes slow
- Talk becomes unclear
- Fatigue
- Confusion
- Seizures
Hyponatremia should not be allowed to continue. Hyponatremia that gets worse can lead to coma or even death.
Prevention and treatment of polydipsia
As a precaution, keep your fluid intake to prevent dry mouth and dehydration from lack of fluids. You can get fluids not only from water, but also from fruit or vegetables.
For the treatment of polydipsia caused by a disease, the treatment must follow the disease.
The most important thing is to make healthier lifestyle changes, such as eating a balanced healthy diet, getting enough exercise and rest, and maintaining fluid intake in the body. In addition, regularly conduct counseling to maintain mental and physical health.
