polydipsia (redirected from Increased water consumption)

polydipsia /poly·dip·sia/ (-dip´se-ah) chronic excessive thirst and fluid intake.

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pol·y·dip·si·a (pl-dps-)

n.

Excessive or abnormal thirst.

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poly·dipsic adj.

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Polydipsia

Excessive thirst.

Mentioned in: Fanconi's Syndrome

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polydipsia

[pol′ēdip′sē·ə]

Etymology: Gk, polys + dipsa, thirst

1 excessive thirst. It is characteristic of several different conditions, including diabetes mellitus, in which an excessive concentration of glucose in the blood osmotically pulls intracellular fluid into the bloodstream and increases the excretion of fluid via increased urination, which leads to hypovolemia and thirst. In diabetes insipidus the deficiency of the pituitary antidiuretic hormone results in excretion of copious amounts of dilute urine, reduced fluid volume in the body, and polydipsia. In nephrogenic diabetes insipidus there is also copious excretion of urine with consequent polydipsia. Polyuria resulting from other forms of renal dysfunction also leads to polydipsia. The condition also may be psychogenic in origin.

2 

Usage notes: (informal)

alcoholism.

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polydipsia (pol´ēdip´sē),

n an abnormally increased thirst.

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polydipsia

excessive thirst manifested by excessive water intake. The histories that accompany animal patients are often inaccurate on this point and should be qualified quantitatively.

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compensatory polydipsia

one caused by an obligatory polyuria.

drug-induced polydipsia

diuretics, corticosteroids, salt, vitamin D, and megestrol acetate may cause a polyuria and, secondarily, a polydipsia.

primary polydipsia

excessive water drinking in hyperactive, stressed dogs. See also psychogenic diabetes insipidus.

psychogenic polydipsia

horses confined in a stall and having little or no exercise may drink excessively from boredom, up to three times normal amounts. It may also occur in dogs, apparently from psychological causes, with large amounts of water a day being consumed and a corresponding polyuria with a large volume of dilute urine produced. Yet, when water intake is restricted normal tubular function with concentration of urine is possible. See also psychogenic diabetes insipidus.

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polydipsia

Excessive thirst