US Medical Term · symptoms
Excessive Thirst (Polydipsia)
Sed excesiva
Also: Polidipsia (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Excessive Thirst (Polydipsia) |
| Spanish (Español) | Sed excesiva |
| Chinese (中文) | 過度口渴 |
| Korean (한국어) | 과도한 갈증 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Khát nước quá mức |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Labis na uhaw |
| Portuguese (Português) | Sede excessiva |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | กระหายน้ำมาก |
| Japanese (日本語) | 多飲症 |
What it means
Excessive thirst, medically called polydipsia, means feeling intensely and persistently thirsty even after drinking adequate fluids. It can be a normal response to exercise, hot weather, or a salty meal, but ongoing excessive thirst that doesn't resolve is an important warning sign. It is one of the classic early symptoms of diabetes mellitus, particularly when paired with frequent urination and unexplained fatigue or weight loss. Other causes include diabetes insipidus, certain medications, dry mouth from mouth breathing, and psychogenic polydipsia. New or worsening excessive thirst should always prompt a blood glucose check.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
No matter how much I drink, I am always thirsty.
No importa cuánto beba, siempre tengo sed.
I've been drinking several liters of water a day and still feel parched.
He estado bebiendo varios litros de agua al día y aún siento la boca reseca.
My thirst has been extreme lately and I'm also urinating much more than usual.
Últimamente tengo una sed extrema y también estoy orinando mucho más de lo normal.
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
R63 Symptoms and signs concerning food and fluid intakeRelated terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026