A feeling of wanting to drink.
The desire or need for water or other fluids. In healthy people, thirst indicates the body’s need for fluid. A person who becomes dehydrated from exercise or illness may experience excessive thirst.
The sensation of thirst is generally felt at the back of the throat, because, when there is a deficiency of water in the system, the throat and mouth especially become parched by evaporation of moisture from their surface. Thirst is increased by heat, and is a constant symptom of fever; it is also present in diseases which remove a considerable amount of fluid from the system, such as diarrhoea, diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus, and after great loss of blood by haemorrhage. A demand for water is also a feature of many conditions associated with prolonged exertion, severe exhaustion and dehydration.
The sensation resulting from the lack of adequate body water or desire for liquids. Excessive thirst may be an early symptom of diabetes as the kidneys excrete extra water in an effort to decrease circulating glucose levels. Thirst is common following fever, vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, vigorous exercise, or other causes of hypovolemia or hyperosmolality. In addition, thirst may be associated with the use of diuretics, tricyclic antidepressants, and some antihistamines, among other drugs.
The inclination towards quenching one’s thirst and a vital process that regulates the distribution of bodily fluids are intimately interconnected.
The inclination to consume liquids. Thirst serves as one method to regulate the body’s water content, with urine volume being the other.
The urge for fluids is triggered when there is an elevated concentration of salt, sugar, or specific other substances in the bloodstream. As the blood flows through the brain’s hypothalamus, specific nerve receptors are activated, leading to the sensation of thirst. This sensation can also be prompted by a reduction in blood volume due to factors like sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, significant bleeding, or extensive burns. Additionally, a dry mouth can result in feelings of thirst.