Diuretics



Diuretics, also called water pills, are medications designed to increase the amount of water and salt expelled from the body as urine. There are three types of prescription diuretics. They’re often prescribed to help treat high blood pressure, but they're used for other conditions as well.

The most common condition treated with diuretics is high blood pressure. The drugs reduce the amount of fluid in your blood vessels, and this helps lower your blood pressure. Other conditions are also treated with diuretics. Congestive heart failure, for instance, keeps your heart from pumping blood effectively throughout your body. This leads to a buildup of fluids in your body, which is called edema. Diuretics can help reduce this fluid buildup.

A Warning About “Natural Diuretics” Some herbs and plants are considered “natural diuretics,” including: hawthorn green and black tea parsley None of these substances can be used to replace a prescription diuretic. If you have questions about diuretics and other treatment options, talk to your doctor.


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