Why do I struggle to drink liquids? Common causes and solutions

December 9, 2025 •

4 min read

It is estimated that around 17% to 28% of older adults in the United States struggle with hydration issues, often because they do not feel thirsty. There are many possible reasons why an individual may struggle to drink liquids, ranging from a diminished thirst reflex to underlying medical conditions.

Quick Summary

This article explores the medical conditions and lifestyle factors contributing to difficulties drinking liquids, such as dysphagia, dehydration, and a weakened thirst mechanism. It also provides actionable strategies to increase fluid intake and improve hydration.

Key Points

Dysphagia Causes Swallowing Issues: Medical conditions affecting nerves and muscles, like stroke, Parkinson's, and muscular dystrophy, can cause physical difficulty swallowing liquids, known as dysphagia.
Thirst Reflex Can Diminish: A weakened thirst mechanism, especially common in older adults, can lead to inadequate fluid intake, even when the body needs it.
Dehydration Can Suppress Thirst: Counterintuitively, worsening dehydration can actually interrupt the body's thirst signals, creating a cycle of poor hydration.
Lifestyle and Habits Play a Role: Many people simply forget to drink enough liquids due to busy schedules, a dislike of plain water, or other lifestyle factors.
Flavor Water Naturally: To make drinking more enjoyable, add slices of fruit, cucumber, or fresh herbs to water to naturally enhance its flavor.
Track Your Intake with Reminders: Set alarms or use a water bottle with time markers to consistently remind yourself to drink throughout the day, helping to build a healthy habit.
High-Water Foods Aid Hydration: Eating water-rich foods such as watermelon, lettuce, and soups can help contribute to your daily fluid intake.
Seek Medical Advice for Persistent Problems: Recurring or severe difficulty drinking or swallowing warrants a consultation with a healthcare provider to diagnose and treat any underlying medical conditions.

Understanding Dysphagia and Swallowing Difficulties

Dysphagia, the medical term for swallowing problems, is a common and serious reason for struggling to drink liquids. This condition can make swallowing uncomfortable or feel like liquid is getting stuck in the throat. It can affect anyone but is more prevalent in infants, older adults, and those with certain medical conditions.

Dysphagia can be categorized by where the issue occurs in the swallowing process:

Oral Dysphagia: Problems originating in the mouth involving the tongue, jaw, or saliva production.
Oropharyngeal Dysphagia: Issues in the throat that affect the transfer of liquids from the mouth to the esophagus.
Esophageal Dysphagia: Difficulty in the esophagus, where liquids are moved to the stomach.

Medical and Neurological Causes

Several medical conditions can damage the muscles and nerves involved in swallowing, leading to dysphagia. Neurological disorders such as strokes, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and dementia can all interfere with swallowing coordination. Conditions like myasthenia gravis or muscular dystrophy can cause muscle weakness that affects the throat and esophagus. Structural issues, such as esophageal rings, strictures from GERD, or tumors, can also cause blockages. Eosinophilic esophagitis, an allergic inflammatory reaction, is another possible cause.

The Role of Thirst and Dehydration

Beyond mechanical swallowing issues, struggling to drink liquids is often linked to a lack of thirst or chronic dehydration. Surprisingly, as dehydration worsens, the thirst sensation can diminish, creating a cycle that is difficult to break. For many people, especially older adults, the body's thirst mechanism is naturally weaker.

This can be complicated by lifestyle factors or other medical issues. For example, some individuals are simply born with a less sensitive thirst reflex. Others may be too busy or simply forget to drink fluids regularly. Certain medications, particularly diuretics, can also increase urination and fluid loss, contributing to dehydration. In rare cases, a damaged thirst center in the brain, a condition called adipsia, can cause a complete lack of thirst.

Comparing Causes of Liquid Intake Problems


Feature	Dysphagia (Swallowing Problem)	Lack of Thirst (Dehydration)
Primary Problem	Physical or neurological difficulty in the act of swallowing.	Reduced sensation of thirst, leading to low fluid intake.
Associated Symptoms	Coughing, choking, wet voice, food getting stuck, nasal regurgitation.	Dry mouth, fatigue, dark urine, dizziness, confusion in severe cases.
Underlying Causes	Neurological damage (stroke, MS), muscle disorders, GERD, structural blockages.	Age-related changes, medication side effects, specific conditions like diabetes, or simply forgetfulness.
Liquid Tolerance	Certain consistencies (thin liquids) may be harder to swallow than thicker ones.	Generally no difficulty swallowing, but simply no motivation to drink.
Medical Intervention	Often requires speech and language therapy, dietary modifications, or sometimes surgery.	Treatment focuses on rehydration and addressing underlying medical issues.

Practical Strategies to Increase Fluid Intake

If you find yourself struggling to drink liquids, there are many proactive steps you can take to increase your hydration. The following list provides several helpful tips:

Schedule Your Sips: Make drinking a routine. Set an alarm on your phone to remind you to drink a glass of water every hour, or create a habit of drinking a glass every time you perform a regular activity, such as brushing your teeth or eating a meal.
Enhance the Flavor: For those who find plain water boring, add natural flavorings. Infuse your water with slices of cucumber, lemon, lime, or fresh berries.
Eat Your Water: Many fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon, cucumbers, and lettuce, have high water content and contribute significantly to your daily fluid intake. Soups and broths are also great options.
Stay Prepared: Carry a reusable water bottle with you wherever you go. Having water constantly accessible and visible can trigger you to take regular sips.
Hydrate During Exercise: Be mindful to replace fluids lost during physical activity. Sports drinks with electrolytes can be beneficial for prolonged or intense exercise, but simple water is often enough.
Use Visual Cues: Use a water bottle with time markings to track your progress throughout the day. You can also monitor your urine color; if it's pale yellow, you are likely well-hydrated, but dark yellow urine means you should drink more.

Conclusion

Struggling to drink liquids can have simple causes, like forgetting to drink throughout the day, or more complex medical origins, such as dysphagia or a reduced thirst response due to age. The key to overcoming this issue is identifying the root cause, which may require consultation with a healthcare professional. By understanding whether the challenge is a physical inability to swallow or a cognitive lack of thirst, individuals can employ targeted strategies, from making dietary changes to setting up hydration reminders, to ensure they get the vital fluids their body needs. Consistent hydration is crucial for overall health and avoiding serious complications like dehydration, malnutrition, and other related health problems. If symptoms persist or are severe, seeking professional medical help is essential.

For more in-depth information about swallowing disorders, visit the Cleveland Clinic website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Dysphagia is the medical term for difficulty swallowing. It can cause problems with liquids, solids, or both and is a symptom of various underlying medical conditions, such as nervous system disorders or structural blockages.

Yes. As dehydration progresses, it can disrupt the body's normal systems, including the thirst reflex. This is particularly true for older adults whose thirst signals may already be weaker.

Common symptoms of dehydration include dry mouth, dark-colored urine, fatigue, dizziness, and less frequent urination. In infants, signs can include no tears when crying and fewer wet diapers.

If you find plain water unappealing, you can infuse it with natural flavors from fruits like lemon or berries, add fresh herbs like mint or basil, or try unsweetened sparkling water.

Most non-alcoholic and non-caffeinated liquids, as well as water-rich foods like fruits and vegetables, contribute to your fluid intake. However, water is the best choice for hydration, while sugary drinks and excessive caffeine or alcohol can be dehydrating.

You should see a doctor if you experience persistent difficulty swallowing, choking, coughing after drinking, unexplained weight loss, or have symptoms of severe dehydration like confusion or dizziness.

Adipsia is a rare medical condition characterized by a lack of thirst, even in the presence of dehydration. It is caused by damage to the brain's thirst center in the hypothalamus.