Diuretics, also known as water pills, help kidneys to remove extra salt (sodium) and fluid from your body through urine. Excess water can affect your heart’s functioning and cause difficulty breathing. Read on to know more about diuretics and how they work and what are the benefits of diuretics to help your system remove extra fluids. 

• Long-term diuretic use can impact kidney function and require regular monitoring.
• Diuretics can cause shifts in electrolyte levels, affecting muscle and heart function.
• Diuretic effectiveness can diminish over time due to resistance.
• Diuretic use may increase during hot weather to manage dehydration risks.
• Diuretics can enhance the effectiveness of other medications like antihypertensives.
• Caffeine in coffee and tea has mild diuretic effects, increasing urine production.
• Spironolactone, a potassium-sparing diuretic, is used off-label for acne and PCOS.

All three types of diuretics, loop, thiazide, and potassium-sparing diuretics, work to help your body release extra fluid your body is retaining.

Loop diuretics are considered the most potent diuretics. They eliminate and prevent the reabsorption of sodium, potassium, and chloride. This leads to the loss of all three elements from the kidney, resulting in increased urine production. Loop diuretics also help prevent the reabsorption of magnesium and calcium.

Loop diuretics help treat heart failure (congestive heart failure), edema, and liver disease. Doctors also prescribe them for the treatment of high blood pressure.

• Furosemide (Lasix): It treats swelling and fluid retention after liver, heart, and kidney diseases. In some cases, it is also prescribed for treating high blood pressure. 
• Torsemide (Demadex): It decreases extra fluid in the body caused by certain health conditions.
• Bumetanide (Bumex): It removes excess fluid from body tissues. It can also treat swelling caused by particular heart and kidney diseases. 

One of the most prescribed diuretics is thiazides. These diuretics encourage the release of salt in the urine. Due to this, urine flow also increases in the body. Thiazides also work to relax your blood vessels. 

Thiazides work in different ways to lower blood pressure and cardiac blood pumping work. They reduce the potassium and sodium reabsorption while holding the same calcium level. 

• Chlorthalidone (Chlorthalid): It is a water pill used to treat high blood pressure. This medicine cannot be stopped suddenly without a doctor’s advice.
• Hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide): Hydrochlorothiazide treats high blood pressure. It must not be taken for a long time. It can affect the natural working of the heart and arteries. 
• Indapamide (Lozol): It is primarily used to treat swelling and excess fluid retention due to heart diseases. 

Potassium-sparing diuretics promote diuresis without reducing the potassium level in your body. These diuretics work to keep the optimal level of potassium in your body as other types of diuretics cause the loss of potassium which can lead to arrhythmia.  

Potassium-sparing diuretics are prescribed when there is a risk of hypertension (high blood pressure) and heart failure. Most importantly, these diuretics prevent hypokalemia (depletion of potassium) due to diuretic uses. 

• Spironolactone (Aldactone): It is used with other medicines to treat high blood pressure and decrease the chances of heart failure. In some cases, it is also used to treat hyperaldosteronism.
• Triamterene (Dyrenium): It prevents the body from losing potassium. Increasing urine decreases the amount of excess fluid in the body. It can be used alone or in combination with other medicines to treat high blood pressure. 
• Eplerenone (Inspra): It treats heart failure and heart strokes. It can also treat hyperaldosteronism.
• Amiloride (Midamor): It keeps your body from losing potassium. It can also treat high blood pressure. Amiloride is only available on a doctor’s prescription.

Your doctor may have prescribed you diuretics to treat high blood pressure, heart problem, kidney problem, edema, or liver medical conditions. Before you take diuretics, let your doctor know if you have diabetes or gout problems.  Follow the directions of your doctor and what’s written on the label. It is also advised to have at least 4 to 6 hours of intervals between doses if you’re talking more than one dose a day. And take your last dose before the afternoon. 

Monitor your blood pressure and weight. If you abruptly gain weight after using the medicine for a week, call your doctor. 

Diuretics react with certain drugs. To avoid any potential problems, your doctor asks you about your medical history and if you take any medicines, herbs, or vitamin supplements. The following medications can interact with diuretics:

• Probenecid
• Corticosteroids
•  Indomethacin
• Digoxin
• Other medicine for hypotension

While taking certain diuretics, you may have to avoid certain foods. It can be a low-salt diet or potassium-rich nutrition, depending on the level of potassium in your body. 

Usually, the human body can tolerate diuretics. Still, there can be some familiar serious side effects due to the change in the level of electrolytes (potassium, sodium, calcium). 

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Fatigue/muscle cramps
• Gout
• Dry mouth/thirst
• constipation/diarrhea
• Cholesterol uptake
• High blood sugar

In some instances, you can experience more severe side effects such as allergic reactions, increased and irregular heartbeat, and kidney problems. 

Diuretics are used to expel the fluids (mostly sodium) from your body to help your heart work with more ease. Along with prescribed diuretics, there are seven natural diuretics as well that can help your body with water retention. 

1. Hibiscus (Roselle):  A beautiful flower that has some fantastic diuretic qualities. It helps in kidney filtration and controlling the loss of potassium from your body. You can have tea or dip the dried petals in hot water. 

1. Dandelion: It is commonly known as a wildflower, dandelion leaf extract has shown significant diuretic effects in studies as it increases the frequency of urination. It is available as tea. 

1. Ginger: Ginger is known for its detoxifying nature and has been the hero ingredient of many therapeutic drinks and teas. And it can detox, it can be a diuretic also. 

1. Hawthorn: Cousin of the rose family, hawthorn has proved to be a strong diuretic. It helps remove the extra fluids by increasing urine flow. And this, in turn, improves heart health. 

1. Parsley: Parsley seeds have been part of many households for their diuretic nature and are used in cooking different cuisines. You can use fresh or dried seeds per your choice. 

1. Nigella sativa: It is more popular as black seed, or black cumin. Nigella sativa is very effective in increasing urine and lower potassium and sodium levels. Its peppery taste is quite famous in southeastern cuisines. 

1. Green/Black Tea: If you love tea, you are already getting rid of excess fluid from your system. Both black and green teas have natural diuretic effects. 

If you want to live a healthy heart life, you need to change two things. One is to make sure you take your medications on time, either diuretics or others. And the second change is in your lifestyle. Medicines will help you control and treat the disease. It can be blood pressure, swollen tissue, kidney condition, or heart failure. However, the bigger change happens when you improve your lifestyle. Keep your diet healthy and nutrients rich. Never underestimate the power of good body rest and good body exercise.