The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as quality, time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for excessive thirst, occurring alone or in combination with other problems. Considerations Drinking lots of water is usually healthy. However, beyond a certain limit the desire to drink excessively may reflect an underlying disease, either physical or emotional.
Excessive thirst can be an important clue in detecting diabetes .
There are thousands of diabetics in the U.S. who are either undiagnosed or inadequately treated. Excessive thirst, a fairly common symptom, is often the reaction to fluid loss during exercise or intake of salty foods. If excessive thirst is persistent and unexplained, or accompanied by other unexplained symptoms. The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed. Fluid intake and output will be closely monitored.