Why You Might Still Be Thirsty After Drinking Water

Do you find yourself asking the question, “Why am I still thirsty after drinking water?" Unfortunately, resolving the issue isn't as simple as drinking more water, because you’re not addressing an underlying problem. If you feel you are drinking plenty of water but not quenching your thirst, there could be any number of reasons for this.

The sensation that you are not getting enough fluid can be due to underlying diseases such as diabetes, diarrhea, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, liver problems and many other diseases of the digestive system.

Additionally, if you’re drinking a large volume of water daily and still feel thirsty, you may be consuming it from a water source that has been stripped of naturally occurring minerals and electrolytes.

In this post, we will go over the many possible causes for drinking ample quantities of water but still feeling thirsty.

Diabetes and Other Medical Conditions

If your thirst seems greater than it should be and persists even after a tall glass of water, there may be an underlying medical situation. If you have diabetes insipidus, for example, your body may be producing large amounts of urine, especially in people who also have high blood pressure.

Complications from diabetes insipidus include dehydration and a change in the chemical composition of body fluid from electrolyte imbalance related to blood sugar levels.

Vomiting and diarrhea can also cause loss of water in the body. That is because expelling too much fluid in this way disrupts the normal electrolyte balance of your body. In addition to waking up parched at night, you may experience dizziness and fatigue from your dehydrated state.

Other diseases and medical conditions can be the reason you’re unable to quench your thirst, too. For example, heart failure inhibits adequate blood flow, which leads to reduced blood volume that induces a feeling of thirst. Kidney failure can also cause you to experience excessive thirst, because your kidneys are not maintaining a balance of bodily fluids, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Blood vessels in the esophagus can become enlarged and bleed with certain liver problems, decreasing blood volume which also leads to a body fluid imbalance. In addition, there is a mental health condition called polydipsia characterized by extreme thirst induced by stress and anxiety.

Humidity and Altitude

People who live in dry climates or high altitude can attest to needing to drink more water than those who don't live in those areas. It's crucial that they understand the importance of electrolytes at altitude.

This is because it’s not simply about drinking more water, but also getting enough electrolytes like sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, bicarbonate, and hydrogen phosphate.

Diet

The kidneys function to regulate body fluid volume, and the food you eat can increase sodium concentrations in your blood relative to water. The interstitial fluid (water around cells) moves into and out of your bloodstream to balance changes in sodium and water content according to Current Biology.

Your kidneys remove the excess sodium and water by excreting them in urine. The whole process will trigger a reaction in your body to induce thirst to prevent dehydration.

Intense Workouts

It may go without saying, but if you’ve been working out intensely on a consistent basis, you may still be feeling thirsty even after drinking glasses of water. Staying hydrated during athletic training is crucial for performance and recovery.

Products like Gatorade were created to replenish electrolytes lost during sweating. However, you don’t need to go out and buy sugary sports drinks when there are naturally occurring spring water sources with a perfect balance of minerals and electrolytes.

Dehydration

Drinking enough water in your day typically keeps you from being dehydrated. But if you are ill, exercise hard or in hot weather, you may not be getting the right combination of electrolytes and water.

Symptoms of dehydration can include persistent thirst, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased urination and abdominal pain. As you get dehydrated, it can have a negative impact on your blood pressure, heart rate and blood sugar levels.

One way to determine whether you are getting enough water is to pay close attention to your urine. If it is dark yellow, you may be dehydrated. If you have consumed enough water, it will have a pale yellow, or almost clear, color.

More Than Just Drinking More Water

If you find that you still feel thirsty after drinking a large volume of water each day, it’s obvious that the solution isn’t just to increase your drinking volume and frequency. The goal is to make sure you drink enough water every day to never really get thirsty, but you may be neglecting your electrolyte intake. Electrolytes include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, bicarbonate and hydrogen phosphate.

According to MedlinePlus, dehydration isn’t just caused by your body losing water, it also means you're losing electrolytes needed to help your body breathe, move, talk, and perform all your normal activities.

Consider the Quality of Your Water

Water straight from the tap has been stripped of its naturally occurring minerals and electrolytes. This imbalance in electrolytes can be a reason you are still feeling thirsty after drinking water. Staying properly hydrated is more than just drinking water. You should also be considering what's in your water.

Eldorado Natural Spring Water comes straight from an underground water source in Colorado with a perfect balance of electrolytes and minerals. Stop wondering if you are getting the minerals and electrolytes necessary for proper hydration from your tap water. Know you're getting them from ours!

Are you interested in transitioning to a more natural source of drinking water? If you’re a Colorado resident, you can get this natural spring water delivered right to your door each month. Click below to learn how!