Everyone who is afraid of making speeches (and that’s most people, according to recent polls) has experienced the dry mouth of nervousness. It’s nothing to worry about — it’s just a normal symptom of anxiety. Having a drier mouth is also a normal part of aging. Dry mouth can be a side effect of many prescription and non-pre-scription drugs, and the result of eating lots of salty food. But sometimes a dry mouth can signal that some¬thing more serious is going on in your body, and you need your doctor’s help.

It’s time to see your doctor if you have mouth dryness and:

  • Excessive thirst
  • Weak, rapid pulse
  • Cool, sweaty skin
  • Dizziness
  • Muscle cramps or weakness
  • Nausea or vomiting

You may have heat exhaustion, which means you’ve failed to drink enough to replace body fluids and salt you’ve lost through sweating. Drink liq¬uids and seek medical care immediately.

  • Severe thirst Dry lips
  • Little or no urine
  • Sunken eyes
  • Muscle cramps or weakness
  • Lightheadedness
  • Rapid heart rate and breathing

These symptoms are a sign of dehydration, a com¬mon condition in older people. It can lead to more serious, sometimes fatal, conditions such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

  • Excessive thirst
  • Increased appetite
  • Frequent urination
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Frequent
  • Infections
  • Fatigue

These symptoms may mean that you have diabetes.

  • Fever
  • Swollen and painful lymph glands on your neck
  • Swelling and pain under your tongue or behind your ears
  • Pus draining into your mouth

These are the signs of an infected salivary gland. A chronic illness or vitamin deficiency due to a poor diet can make you vulnerable to the bacteria that cause infections such as this one. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic to fight the infection.

Constant dryness of your nose and eyes
Vaginal dryness that makes intercourse painful
Painful, achy joints

These symptoms may point to Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disorder.