What is Polydipsia?

Polydipsia is the medical term for extreme thirst that does not improve no matter how much you might actually drink. More about the causes, symptoms and treatment is revealed in an article written by Brenda McBean and reviewed by Suzanne Falck, MD, FACP. This condition itself is not a disease but can be an important symptom of certain other health problems such as diabetes. Anyone experiencing this symptom should see his or her doctor.

We all are subject to feelings of thirst after eating salty food, after strenuous exercise or after spending a day in the hot sun. It doesn’t usually last long and it can be easily quenched with fluids. It is possible, however, to last days, weeks or even longer depending upon the cause. Those with polydipsia tend to be thirsty most or all of the time, despite drinking water regularly. If a person is constantly complaining that their mouth is always so dry and they can’t get enough to drink, these may be indicators of polydipsia. Polydipsia is almost always accompanied by polyuria, which means large amounts of urine. The kidneys’ primary job is to help the body find the right balance of water and fluids. This condition is defined as passing 3 or more liters of urine in 24 hours in adults.

Determining how much water a person should have depends upon how healthy they are, how much they exercise and where they live. Everyone requires a different amount of water.

Some causes of polydipsia are diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, dehydration, loss of body fluids, certain medications and dry mouth. It is a common sign of either early or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus that can be helped with insulin.

Common diabetes mellitus symptoms include polydipsia, polyuria, extreme and uncontrolled hunger, blurred vision, extreme fatigue or lack of energy, genital itching, slow healing of wounds or cuts, weight change, frequent or returning infections and tingling or numbness in the hands or feet. Diabetes insipidus is a rare condition and related to a hormone called vasopressin, an antidiuretic hormone that helps to control fluid removal through the kidneys.

Anyone with polydipsia should see a doctor for a diagnosis. A blood test called HbA1c measures a person’s sugar levels over the previous 3 months and can be used when diabetes mellitus is first diagnosed. Other tests may be ordered when diabetes mellitus is not the cause such as checking vasopressin levels, checking sodium and potassium levels in the blood and a fluid deprivation test. Some drugs may also cause or add to polydipsia and polyuria.

Early recognition and treatment of polydipsia is the key to preventing possible problems. It is easily managed and most likely will not return once the cause is corrected.

Dr Fredda Branyon