Thirst is your body’s way of telling you that it’s running low on water, which it needs to work well. It’s normal to feel thirsty when it’s hot or after you’ve powered through an intense workout.

But if you’re constantly sipping water without relief, it could signal another health problem.

Dehydration

Dehydration means your body doesn’t have enough water to carry out normal tasks, and thirst is the main symptom. It can happen for many reasons, such as exercise, diarrhea, vomiting, and too much sweating.

Besides wanting water, other signs can include:

• Dark-colored urine
• Not needing to pee as often
• Dry mouth
• Dry skin
• Feeling tired or lightheaded
• Headache

Kids who are dehydrated might also:

• Have few or no tears when they cry
• Have a dry, sticky mouth
• Go to the bathroom less or have fewer wet diapers
• Be cranky or sluggish

Diabetes

Thirst you can’t seem to quench, what doctors call polydipsia, is one symptom of diabetes. When you have diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough of the hormone insulin or doesn’t use it properly. It causes too much sugar (called glucose) to build up in your body.

Glucose in your urine draws in more water, so you pee more often. That leaves your body wanting to replace the fluid you’re losing.

Along with thirst and more visits to the restroom, other symptoms of diabetes include:

• Blurred vision
• Feeling very tired
• Hunger
• Cuts and bruises that are slow to heal

Diabetes Insipidus

Despite its name, this condition isn’t related to diabetes. It happens when your body doesn’t make enough of a hormone that helps your kidneys control the amount of water in your body. Excessive thirst is one of the major symptoms.

If you have diabetes insipidus, you may also have:

• Dehydration
• The urge to pee often

Dry Mouth

A dry mouth can make you feel very thirsty. Usually, it happens because the glands in your mouth make less saliva. You may get it because of medications you take, treatments for other conditions such as cancer, diseases like Sjögren’s syndrome, nerve damage in the head and neck, or tobacco use.

If your glands don't make enough saliva, you may have other symptoms, such as:

• Bad breath
• Change in taste
• Irritated gums
• Lipstick sticking to your teeth
• Thick, stringy saliva
• Trouble chewing