Health problems that make you always thirsty
Your body is about 60 percent water. You might be surprised to learn that your lungs are about 80 percent water and your heart and brain about 70 percent. When you understand how much H2O each organ needs, it’s easy to understand why water is essential for your body.
If you feel like you can drink a whole gallon non-stop, then your body is trying to tell you something. Let’s say you just completed a strenuous workout. As you move, your body transpires many of the fluids it needs.
You must replace the water that you lost during your workout, or you may become dehydrated. You suddenly feel a sense of relief after filling your tank once more. However, what if you haven’t exercised and you keep drinking, but nothing quenches your thirst? What do you do when the need for hydration becomes completely insatiable?
10 reasons for excessive thirst
Your body has a unique way of communicating with you. For example, the severe headache is trying to tell you that you have a slipped disc in your neck. You may experience nausea or diarrhea when a bacterial virus has entered your system.
When it comes to excessive thirst, your body is trying to tell you that you need to fix what’s wrong. Sometimes it is an easy fix, but other times, you need medical intervention. Don’t ignore the need for constant hydration , as it is a sign of something underlying. These are the most common reasons why you cannot quench your thirst .
1. Thyroid problems cause you to always be thirsty
According to experts, around 20 million people in this country have a thyroid disorder. Did you know that your thyroid controls many functions in your body? This little butterfly gland at the bottom of your neck regulates things like temperature and your energy levels.
Consequently, most people are unaware that too much or too little of this hormone can cause all kinds of problems in your body, one of which is dry mouth. People who have hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, are the ones who generally experience problems that cause thirst.
2. Consume diuretic medications
Did you know that there are many foods that can make you urinate more? Things like celery, lemons, parsley, and even watermelon can cause you to flush out more water. Since many of these foods have great benefits for the health of the body, you should not give them up.
However, you should know that you may need to increase your fluid intake when consuming any of them. Also, be wary of high-fiber foods, which can also have a similar effect, such as quinoa, oatmeal, and rice.
3. Menstruation
Did you know that your estrogen and progesterone levels can have a profound effect on your body’s fluid levels? During a woman’s menstrual cycle, she is likely to feel thirsty as these hormones are at their highest. Another consideration is that you can lose too much water during your period.
If a woman has a heavy flow for several days, it can cause you to want to put more fluid on her body. Therefore, it is always a good idea to have a bottle of water on hand during that time of the month.
4. Diabetes or diabetes insipidus
If you drink more water, you will urinate more often . However, if you have other symptoms like weight loss, exhaustion, and irritability, it could be a sign that you have diabetes. You will need to see your doctor and take a glucose test to determine the diagnosis.
Diabetes causes you to expel a large part of your fluid stores with frequent urination, so it is natural that you need to replace those lost fluids. Now, you should not confuse diabetes with diabetes insipidus, since they are two different conditions.
Diabetes insipidus is a separate beast and it also causes you to lose too much fluid. This ailment causes your body’s fluid levels to drop, which can cause some serious problems. Your insatiable thirst is how your body recovers this loss. Fortunately, treatment can help reduce water loss so you can quench your thirst.
5. Dry mouth
If you have a dry mouth, which is medically known as xerostomia, many people mistake it for an insatiable thirst. However, medications can cause this problem, as well as drying out the mucous membranes inside the mouth. When the glands in your mouth don’t produce an adequate amount of saliva, it can lead to cottonmouth, bad breath, and even stringy-looking saliva.
This problem is commonly seen among those who smoke cigarettes or use marijuana. In rare cases, it may be an underlying medical problem like Sjögren’s syndrome that is causing this annoying dry mouth , so you should always bring these issues up to your doctor.
6. Dehydration
When the water levels in your body drop dangerously low, you can become seriously ill. Think of it as a swimming pool. You will not notice if a little water is missing on the surface. However, if a hole causes the pool to lose more than a third of its water content; then it is easier to identify a problem.
When the water content of your body is too low, it is cause for alarm. Since most of your body is made up of water, you must make up for lost fluid so your organs can flourish properly. Dehydration can cause some terrifying symptoms, and if your water levels drop too low, you can even slip into a coma or even die.
If you have had a prolonged period of illness where you have been vomiting and have had severe diarrhea, you should replenish your water and electrolytes immediately.
7. Low carbohydrate diets
If you are on a low carb or keto diet, you may be extremely thirsty. Carbohydrates have many functions within the body, one of which helps to retain water intake.
Since you are eating more protein and fat, you will often urinate more frequently, as there is nothing to help you absorb the water. You may find that you go to the bathroom more and need to drink more fluids .
8. Anxiety
Who would think that anxiety would increase your thirst ? When your stress is high, you can take the excess water from your mouth and disperse it to other areas of the body.
Anxiety disorders also cause stomach acids to churn, which can lead to loss of saliva. Being anxious can make you feel all kinds of things, but one of the first things it does is make your mouth dry.
9. Pregnancy
Pregnancy can cause all kinds of problems within the body. One thing that many expectant mothers notice is excessive thirst. This is especially common during the first trimester as the volume of blood in the body increases.
The extra blood circulating through your system causes your kidneys to remove any excess fluid, causing you to urinate more. It is also common for a woman to have morning sickness with nausea or vomiting during this time, which can cause fluid levels to be disturbed.
10. Heat exhaustion
Have you ever been outside in the scorching sun when the temperatures were above 90 degrees? Your body will sweat profusely, which causes you to use up your fluid stores. Miners must often work in all kinds of weather, and during the heat and humidity of summer, it is not uncommon for them to drink up to three gallons of water to stay hydrated.
Your body needs to replenish lost water, and if you don’t do it quickly enough, you could be in real danger. The fluids in your body help you stay cool. If you’ve lost a lot of fluids, you can quickly suffer from heat exhaustion. Body temperature rises rapidly and can be life-threatening.
Final notes
There are numerous reasons why you may experience an insatiable thirst. The most important thing is that you know that your body is trying to communicate with you and tells you that something is not right. It can be as simple as a drug you’re taking making you urinate more, which is depleting your fluid levels.
However, some situations that cause excessive thirst can be dangerous and require immediate medical attention. The good news is that drinking too much water is almost impossible. Most people drink a bottle or two to quench their thirst. You can safely drink a gallon of water without a problem, but you may need two or more gallons when you are outside in hot and humid weather.
Listen to your body and do not allow this problem of excessive thirst to last longer than necessary. It could be a benign situation, but it could be a worrying thing that needs immediate medical attention. Be safe and have a medical professional address any chronic thirst issues
