Polydipsia is the condition that occurs when a person is too thirsty and therefore ends up ingesting an excessive amount of water and other fluids. This condition is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as increased urination, dry mouth and dizziness and has various causes that can be diabetes or changes in the pituitary gland.
The cause of polydipsis is confirmed by a GP after blood or urine tests, which are used to test levels of sugar, sodium and other substances in the body. Treatment depends on the cause, however, it may be based on the use of diabetes medications and anti-depression and anxiety remedies, for example.
The main symptom of polydipsis is the feeling of continuous thirst, but other signs may appear, such as:
These symptoms can mainly occur from sodium loss in the urine caused by increased urine removal. If the person has diabetes, they may also have these symptoms, in addition to exaggerated hunger, slow recovery, or frequent infections. Discover other symptoms of diabetes.
Polydipsia is characterized by excessive thirst and can be caused by health problems such as diabetes mellitus or diabetes insipidus, changes in the pituitary gland, which is the gland responsible for various functions in the body, and by diseases such as Langerhans cell histiocytosis and sarcoidosis. . .
This condition may also be induced by the loss of bodily fluids, due to diarrhea and vomiting, for example, and by the use of certain medications, such as thioridazine, chlorpromazine and antidepressants. To confirm the cause of polydipsis, it is necessary to consult a family doctor for blood and urine tests to test glucose and sodium levels in the body.
There are different types of polydipsis depending on the cause and may be:
After the test, your doctor checks the type of polydipsis the person has and the treatment will be indicated based on this result.
Treatment of polydipsis is indicated by a doctor depending on the causes and type of this condition, and if it is caused by diabetes, blood glucose control medications such as metformin and insulin injections may be recommended, in addition to recommending some lifestyle changes based on a diet low in sugar and physical activity. Get more diabetes management tips.
If polydipsis is caused by psychological disorders, your doctor may recommend antidepressant medications, anxiolytics, and psychological therapy to help the person recover from compulsion from drinking excessive amounts of water.
The main risk of drinking excess water is that the person has hyponatremia, which is the loss of sodium through urine, which can cause headaches, dizziness, drowsiness and even serious situations, such as seizures and coma.
Negative effects may occur on the body when a person drinks more than 60 ml of water per kg of weight, i.e. a person weighing 60 kg may suffer consequences if they drink more than 4 liters of water per day. It is important to note that people who have kidney failure and have had a heart attack should not drink too much water to avoid overloading the body and not aggravate these conditions. However, drinking enough water, for example 2 liters a day, is very important to avoid the development of other health problems, such as kidney stones, for example. See how drinking too much water can affect your health.