What is a diuretic?

Do you ever feel like you’re retaining water faster than the Titanic sank? Fear not, for diuretics may just be your salvation! Diuretics are drugs which help increase urine volume and flow rate, resulting in the excretion of excess fluids. Sound too good to be true? Read on, dear reader, and discover all there is to know about these wondrous little pills.

A Brief Introduction

Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s have a brief rundown of what these miracle workers actually do. The kidneys play a vital role in maintaining fluid balance in the body – they filter out waste products while retaining essential nutrients and electrolytes. However, sometimes our bodies tend to hold onto extra fluid due to various reasons such as heart or liver failure.

This is where diuretics come into play by increasing the renal excretion of sodium from our bodies causing less water retention.

Types Of Diuretics

Let’s discuss the different types of diuretics available for people:

Osmotic diuretics

These agents work by increasing osmolarity/pulling power/concentration (whatever you want to call it) inside nephron resulting more urination . Example include Mannitol

Loop Diurertics

Loop diuretcs act on Thick ascending limb of loop dense Na/K/2Cl transporter- pulling chloride ions followed by H2O This type increases calcium secretion which can help reverse osteoporosis!

Furosemide is one example!

Warning:

Prolonged use may result in deafness ! And other ear problems…listen carefully!! See what i did there?

Thiazide Diuertics

Working much like loop pulls Chloride followed by H20 but acts upon Distal Convoluted Tubule instead !
Shares mode with carbonic anhydrase inhibitors…A mouthful we know!

Bendrofluazide is one of the names you might recognize !

Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors

Climbers have difficulty adjusting to higher altitudes as they tend to suffer from acute mountain sickness. This can be alleviated by utilising carbonic anhydrase inhibitors such as acetazolamide, which helps the body decrease its respiratory drive and allows for better oxygenation.

Now onto more pressing matters..

Why Are Diuretics Prescribed?

Diuretics are primarily prescribed for conditions where fluid buildup in the body can result in complications such as:

  • High blood pressure
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Kidney disease
  • Liver cirrhosis
    _ Fun fact: Long term use of diuretics have been known to cause liver problems_

Additionally, athletes and those looking to lose excess water weight – especially wrestlers or boxers trying to make a weigh-in limit – may use diuretics over a short period long periods not recommended!.

The Side Effects

Before jumping up with joy at your newfound solution let’s review some common side effects that come with using these medication on long term basis:
Long hours spent upon commode!!
1.Thirsty mouth (Drink lots of fluids NOT ALCOHOL)
2.Increased frequency/passage of urine per day causes fatigue/dizziness/headaches/’Oh Crap!’ Moment when bathroom is outta sight!
3.Electrolyte imbalance could lead electrolyte abnormalities resulting seizures!!! So don’t abuse anything okay?

Remember folks, although diuretics offer significant health benefits they aren’t without their drawbacks.

Precautions: Who Should Not Take Them?

While beneficial for many conditions and widely available over-the-counter, there are certain people who should avoid taking these drugs.

If any one self has medical history including following situations please approach Doctor because precautionary measures are to be taken:

  • Diabetes
  • Gout
  • Liver Issues that cause continuous blood inflow problems
    _ Important: Pregnant women should only take diuretics when advised by their doctor_

To Conclude

Diuretics are a valuable medication for those with medical conditions which lead to fluid buildup in the body. They can also be utilized by athletes or actors looking to make weigh-ins/other requirements . While they offer many benefits, always practice caution and consult your doctor before consuming these medications over an extended period of time.

Stay safe, stay healthy !

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