Polydipsia is the condition that occurs when a person is excessively thirsty and because of that ends up ingesting an excessive amount of water and other liquids. This condition is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as increased urination, dry mouth and dizziness and has different causes that can be diabetes or changes in the pituitary gland.
Confirmation of the cause of polydipsia is made by a general practitioner after blood or urine tests, which are used to analyze the levels of sugar, sodium and other substances in the body. Treatment depends on the cause, however, it can be based on the use of diabetes medications and remedies for depression and anxiety, for example.
Main symptoms
The main symptom of polydipsia is the sensation of thirst continuously, but other signs may appear, such as:
- Increased urinary frequency;
- Dry mouth;
- Headache;
- Feeling dizzy;
- Cramps;
- Muscle spasms.
These symptoms can appear, mainly, because of the loss of sodium in the urine caused by the increased elimination of urine. If the person has diabetes, they may also have these symptoms, in addition to exaggerated hunger, slow healing or frequent infections. Check out other symptoms of diabetes.
Possible causes
Polydipsia is characterized by excessive thirst and this 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 can also be induced by the loss of body 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 polydipsia, it is necessary to consult a general practitioner so that blood and urine tests are recommended to analyze the glucose and sodium concentrations in the body.
Types of polydipsia
There are different types of polydipsia depending on the causes and can be:
- Primary or psychogenic polydipsia: occurs when excessive thirst is caused by some psychological problem, such as anxiety disorder, depression and schizophrenia. In most cases, the person with this type has an exaggerated need to drink water for fear of having a disease, for example;
- Drug-induced polydipsia: it is caused by the ingestion of certain drugs that cause polyuria, which is when the person needs to urinate several times a day, such as diuretics, vitamin K and corticosteroids;
- Compensatory polydipsia: this type occurs by falling levels of the antidiuretic hormone, which is responsible for the reabsorption of water in the kidneys, and this situation leads to the loss of a lot of urine, and the body's need to replace the liquid, the person ends up feeling more thirst, causing polydipsia.
After carrying out tests, the doctor checks what type of polydipsia the person suffers and treatment will be indicated according to this result.
How the treatment is done
Treatment for polydipsia is indicated by a doctor depending on the causes and type of this condition, and if it is caused by diabetes, medications to control blood sugar levels such as metformin and insulin injections may be recommended, in addition to advising some changes in lifestyle habits that are based on a low sugar diet and physical activity. Check out other tips to control diabetes.
If polydipsia is caused by psychological disorders, the doctor may recommend antidepressant medications, anxiolytics and psychologist therapy in order to help the person recover from the compulsion to drink excessive amounts of water.
Is drinking too much water bad?
The main risk of drinking excess water is that the person has hyponatremia, which is the loss of sodium through the urine, which can cause headache, dizziness, drowsiness and even serious situations, such as seizures and coma.
The negative effects on the body can arise when a person drinks more than 60 ml of water per kg of weight, that is, a person with 60 kg can suffer consequences if he drinks more than, approximately, 4 liters of water per day. It is important to note that people who suffer from kidney failure and who have had a heart attack should not drink too much water in order not to overload the body and not to worsen these conditions. However, drinking adequate amounts of water, such as 2 liters per day, is very important to prevent the development of other health problems, such as kidney stones, for example. See how drinking too much water can harm your health.
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Bibliography
- SAILER, Clara O .; WINZELER, Bettinaab; CHRIST-CRAIN, Mirjam. Primary polydipsia in the medical and psychiatric patient: characteristics, complications and therapy. Swiss Med Wkly. Vol.147. 1-7, 2017
- BMJ BEST PRACTICE. Psychogenic polydipsia. Available in: . Accessed on 26 Feb 2020
- CAS CLÍNIC. Polyuria and polydipsia, not always diabetes mellitus. 2014. Available at:. Accessed on 26 Feb 2020
- PERESTRELO, João Perestrelo, TEIXEIRA, Bruno. Psychogenic polydipsia and hyponatremia - A side effect of psychosis: a review with a case report. J Bras Psiquiatr. Vol.65, n.3. 300-303, 2016
