Is It Normal To Be Thirsty At Night? Learn All The Reasons

Do you often wake up at night from a peaceful slumber or maybe a deep sleep because you are thirsty? Do you have a sudden urge to drink a glass of water even though you had one before you came to sleep at night? Does it bother you getting up at this unearthly hour for a glass of water? Do you often think “Why am I thirsty at night”? Being thirsty at night could be indicative of some signal or sign that your body is trying to convey. Excessive thirst is known as ‘Polydipsia‘. It is important to note that “always thirsty not diabetic”, but it could be one of the reasons that are causing excessive thirst in the middle of the night.

Reasons Why You Are Thirsty At Night

Here are the major reasons to feel thirsty at night

1. Simply Dehydrated

Maybe the reason why you are getting up at night for a glass of water could be because you are not hydrated enough. You should drink 8-10 glasses of water daily. If your body is not getting enough fluid you might be having these episodes or urges to drink water at night. Water is very important for all the chemical reactions in our cells, it is a driving factor to carry all metabolic processes. Start including more glasses of water in your daily routine.

2. Room Temperature

It is very important to have a proper or ideal room temperature set when you are sleeping. If your room is too cold it might lead to frequent visits to the washroom or if it is too hot, you might be thirsty. Adjust the AC or fan accordingly. In summer you might need to have a cool environment while you are sleeping and a properly hydrated body.

3. Food

If you have started to eat spicy or unhealthy fried food recently that might be the reason why you are having a dry mouth and an urge to drink water at night. Your body produces heat when you eat such food and this leads to evaporation of sweat from your body hence demanding more water.

4. Alcohol

If you went a little heavy on the alcohol intake this could be the reason for you being thirsty at night. The hangovers are the worst. It will give you a dry throat and a sensation of a full stomach, you might feel nauseated or squeamish. You might want to drink water at night, even after you have fallen asleep. Cut low on the alcohol intake before going to bed. It reduces water level in your body as it is a diuretic, increasing your trips to the washroom.

5. Disease (Diabetes)

It is not necessary that you are thirsty at night because of Diabetes but it could be one of the reasons. Excessive thirst at night could be an early sign of Diabetes. The explanation is pretty simple. Your kidneys filter and reabsorb the extra glucose from your blood and when they are not able to cope up with the extra work, the urine is passed out with the high amount of sugar/ glucose in it, leaving you dehydrated.

6. Medication

Some medicines that are prescribed for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder increase thirst at night. It could be a reason for excessive thirst at night. You might have to talk to your doctor about this and see if your doctor could prescribe some other medicines.

Also Read: Headache From Oversleeping Too Much?

7. An Early Sign Of Kidney, Heart Or Liver Condition

Thirst at night or dehydration could be an underlying symptom of organ failure. Your kidneys might be working overtime and if they are not able to function properly, it would lead to loss of water from cells and this would lead to dehydration. Similarly, if the heart is not able to pump blood or liver is not functioning properly, it could affect the function of kidneys. Our organs work in a harmonious and a synchronized manner, a glitch in one of them or an inability to perform their function would affect other organs as well.

8. If You Have A Cold Or Sinus Infection

When your nose is blocked or if you have a sinus infection, you might not be able to breathe through your nose and this could lead to breathing through the mouth. It causes a dry mouth and throat, thus leading to increased thirst and an urge to drink water.

9. Menopause

If you are in your late 50’s then thirst at night could be due to menopause. This is a time when your hormones are rushing through the body and there are a lot of changes occurring inside of you. Oestrogen level will go down, which maintains fluid level in our body, leaving you in a state of dehydration.

How to Stop Being Thirsty at Night?

It can be difficult and annoying when you have to get up at night to drink water. It disturbs your sleep cycle. A disrupted sleep cycle can cause further problems. It is very important to cure this. Excessive thirst causes dehydration if your body doesn’t get enough liquid. Below are a few tips that you can do to stop being thirsty at night.

Drink plenty of water. Keep your body hydrated.
Eat fresh fruits and vegetables which contain water, like watermelon, tomatoes, pomegranate and orange.
Consult a doctor, if nothing is providing you comfort.
Do not drink alcohol and reduce your caffeine intake before sleeping.
Check your blood sugar level.
Reduce eating salty and spicy food.
For a peaceful and comfortable sleep, adjust the room temperature according to your convenience.
If you are having Sleep Apnea or bad nightmares, do consult a sleep therapist or an expert.
Find a comfortable sleeping position and use skin-friendly fabrics for your cushions, pillows and bed sheets.
Pay attention to your body and the signal it is trying to convey.
Check your blood pressure regularly, lower the sodium and potassium intake if required.
To avoid your mouth from getting dry, you can chew sugar-free gums, which will increase the production of saliva.
Use a nasal spray to get rid of your blocked sinus so that you can breathe using your nose again.

Check Out: What Causes Crying In Sleep?

Do You Need to See a Doctor?

These are some of the changes you might want to do in your routine to avoid getting up at night because of your undying thirst or urge to drink water. You can always drink more water if you feel that your body is not getting enough of it. It is always better to consult an expert, an examiner or a doctor to avoid any future discomfort or distress. If it has become a regular thing, then it might be indicating some hidden ailment or metabolic abnormalities, it could also mean that one of your organs is not functioning efficiently or it could very easily mean that you are just thirsty.

Thirsty at night

If you have a medical condition that has been diagnosed before and you are prescribed to take some medicines for it, then maybe these medicines are causing your body heat to increase and thus leading to dehydration. It could also imply that the weather has suddenly turned hot and your body is adapting to this change. It is better to look at these signs and indications carefully before arriving at a conclusion. Medical assistance or professional help is always advised. Peaceful slumber is important for your body to repair and grow and cope up with the traumas of the whole day. Disturbance in the sleep cycle could further unbalance your biological clock leading to severe physical or mental conditions. Do not avoid this by saying that ‘it is normal to get thirsty at night’. Maybe it is not.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Why am I so thirsty at night but not diabetic?

A. It depends on your medications, and hydration habits. Try drinking a lot of water before sleeping so that you can sleep well.

Q2. How do I get rid of an unquenchable thirst?

A. Try limiting your salt consumption and eat liquid foods.

Q3. How long before bedtime should you stop drinking water?

A. Doctors recommend that you should stop drinking water before 2 hours of your bedtime.

Q4. Does drinking water at night affect your kidneys?

A. No, it does not affect your kidneys but it can affect your sleep.

Q5. Is drinking a lot of water good for your kidneys?

A. Yes, it helps in preventing UTIs and kidney stones.