Which term means excessive thirst?

• A. Hyperparathyroidism
• B. Polydipsia
• C. Polyphagia
• D. Polyuria

Answer: (B)

Excessive thirst is polydipsia. The “poly-” prefix means excessive, and “-dipsia” comes from a word meaning thirst, so the term directly describes an abnormally high urge to drink. This signal occurs when the body is dehydrated or when blood glucose is high, prompting the thirst center in the brain to trigger increased fluid intake. Different symptoms refer to other problems: polyphagia means excessive hunger, polyuria means excessive urination, and hyperparathyroidism is a condition of overactive parathyroid glands affecting calcium balance rather than describing thirst.