Why is it that it takes few seconds for our body to decide that it’s had enough water not to be thirsty, but several minutes to recognize that no more food is needed cuz it’s not hungry?
In: Biology
Thirst and Hunger appear similar, but work very differently!
Regulating how much water and salts you need in your body is really determined by your kidneys. Sensors in your heart and kidney measure if you have enough water in your vessels, enough pressure in your circulation and what salts need adjusting. These processes take a long time and are NOT directly coupled to your brains desire to drink.
You get thirsty when your mouth is dry! In some cases it’s because you are dehydrated and aren’t producing enough saliva. Most of the time it’s breathing through your mouth or dry heated air in winter.
Example 1: People who loose a lot of blood need more volume (water with salts) in their system. They do not get thirsty though.
Example 2: Patients with kidney failure have too much water in their bodies, but it is immensely difficult for them to drink less. Doctors need to rigorously explain to them, what amount of drinking is acceptable if you’re on dialysis.
Example 3: Palliative Care Patients who cannot swallow anymore (dysphagia) cannot drink or eat. Giving them i.v. fluids only prolongs death, it does not alleviate thirst however. That’s why these patients prefer coating their mouth with water/soda/beer because it’s delicious and stops thirst.
TL;DR Saturation is largely determined by the stretching of your stomach and complicated hormones. Thirst is usually a dry mouth
Edit: Spelling
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