Frequent Thirst Can Be a Symptoms of Serious Disease

Thirst is actually a normal condition as a sign that the body needs fluids to carry out metabolism. However, always feeling thirsty all the time, a possible sign that something is not normal in the body. If you always feel thirsty, you should watch out. It could be that it is a sign of certain diseases, such as diabetes. Understanding the causes of thirst that is normal and what isn't, will help you to be more alert and know when you need medical help.

Common Causes of Thirst

Normal thirst is a sign that the body needs fluids in response to several conditions such as:

• Dehydration

Dehydration usually occurs after a long time without consuming fluids, especially if the body experiences a loss of fluids due to certain conditions, such as diarrhea, vomiting, or sweating.

• Eat certain foods

Eating foods, especially spicy and salty foods, can make the body thirsty and want to consume more fluids.

• Pregnancy

Pregnant women generally feel more thirsty and want to urinate continuously.

• Take certain medicines

Consumption of certain drugs, such as lithium and diuretics (which provoke more urine production), can cause people to feel excessive thirst.

Diseases That Can Cause Frequent Thirst

Apart from the things above, there are several diseases that can cause excessive thirst called polydipsia (the desire to drink too much). Here are some diseases that can cause these conditions:

• Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition in which sugar or glucose in the blood is at high levels. This makes the kidneys need to produce more urine to help remove glucose from the body. This condition makes diabetic patients feel constantly thirsty. Symptoms that can appear in this disease include injuries that are difficult to heal, fatigue, and frequent urination. Frequent thirst in pregnant women also needs to be watched as a sign of gestational diabetes, which is diabetes in pregnant women.

• Diabetes insipidus

Diabetes insipidus is not related to diabetes mellitus, because diabetes insipidus is caused by antidiuretic hormone (ADH) or vasopressin which regulates fluid levels in the body. In this disease, the body produces urine in high volume, so that sufferers always feel thirsty.

• Diabetic ketoacidosis

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a diabetes complication that can be life threatening. Because the body lacks insulin, glucose in the blood cannot be used, so the body breaks down fat as a substitute fuel. This will result in a buildup of ketones in the body which is very dangerous. Diabetic ketoacidosis often occurs in people with type 1 diabetes, and sometimes in type 2 diabetes. In addition to thirst, other complaints of diabetic ketoacidosis are frequent urination, feeling very tired, pain in the upper abdomen, difficulty breathing long, can even occur in coma.

• Sickle cell anemia

Sickle cell anemia is a condition in which red blood cells have an abnormal shape. Normal red blood cells are biconcave and flexible. But in this condition, red blood cells are shaped like a crescent and stiff, and contain defective hemoglobin. These abnormal red blood cells can block blood vessels and cause damage to organs and tissues. If damage occurs to the kidneys, it can trigger thirst. Patients with sickle cell anemia can also feel lack of energy, shortness of breath, and feel tired quickly, especially after exercise.

If you often experience thirst, which occurs continuously and prolonged, you should see a doctor. You are also advised to check blood sugar levels to anticipate the possibility of diabetes and its complications.