Thirst as an ingestive behavior: A brief review on physiology and assessment

Abstract

Background: Thirst is a sensation normally aroused by a lack of water and associated with a desire to drink more fluid. Aim: The aims of this brief review are twofold: (a) to summarize the thirst mechanism in how it is initiated and diminished, and (b) to describe techniques to assess human thirst accurately in a variety of situations. Discussion: Thirst is maintained via a feedback-controlled mechanism, regulated by central and peripheral factors, as well as social and psychological cues. Most studies of thirst have focused on the initiation of water intake and the neural mechanisms responsible for this vital behavior. Less attention has been paid to the stimuli and mechanisms that terminate a bout of drinking and limit fluid ingestion, such as oropharyngeal and gastric signals, coupled with osmotic sensations. Thirst perception is typically assessed by subjective ratings using a variety of questionnaires, rankings, or visual analog scales. However, the appropriate perceptual tool may not always be used for the correct assessment of thirst perception. Conclusions: In considering the many factors involved in thirst arousal and inhibition, similar questions need to be considered for the correct assessment of this ingestive behavior.

Assistant nurses' experiences of thirst and ethical dilemmas in dying patients in specialized palliative care—A qualitative study

“…A recent review showed that the two main physiological signals for stimulation of thirst are plasma hyper‐osmolality, via cellular dehydration, and hypovolemia due to low blood volume and low arterial pressure. Also oropharyngeal and gastric distension causes activation of neural inputs in the hypothalamus, immediately suppressing the thirst sensation (Adams et al, 2020). However, whether or not this physiological mechanism is the same in dying humans is unknown.…”

Water scarcity can be a critical limitation for the poultry industry

“…Thirst is a subjective perception that motivates an animal to drink as it is a sensation aroused by a lack of water and associated with a desire to drink fluids (Adams et al 2020), which impacts animal welfare (Vanhonacker et al 2008;Tuyttens et al 2010). Providing the optimal requirements of good quality water is necessary for maintaining chicken performance and the gut health and morphology (El Sabry and Abd El-Ghany 2021;El Sabry et al, 2018a).…”

Evaluation of nonpharmacological nursing practices related to thirst and the thirst of patients in the intensive care unit

“…5 Prolonged thirst lasting more than 24 hours can have significant negative impacts on the comfort of patients during their healing process, potentially causing fluid and electrolyte imbalances, delirium, and even post-traumatic stress disorder. 5,9,11,13,14 As such, regular assessment of thirst is crucial in order to prevent or mitigate these symptoms. 4 However, the assessment and management of thirst in intensive care patients is often neglected.…”