Diuretics, also known as diuretics or natriuretics, are a group whose most important task is to increase the volume of urine we excrete.
What is the effect of diuretics?
Most diuretics are used to increase the excretion of sodium ions. This results in an increase in the rate at which the body gets rid of water. When there is an increase in the excretion of water in urine, there is also a phenomenon where the volume of body fluids is reduced. As a result, blood pressure drops, heart strain decreases, and swelling also decreases.
When do you reach for diuretics?
Diuretics are used in the treatment of a large number of diseases. They appear during the treatment of hypertension, pulmonary and cerebral swelling, as well as during the fight against bacterial infections of the urinary tract. They are also administered to patients with circulatory and renal insufficiency and even cirrhosis. These are also medicines that are very important for the treatment of poisoning by these substances, which are excreted together with the urine. A good example is acetazolamide - a drug that makes urine more alkaline, which makes it easier to cope with an overdose of aspirin.
How are diuretics divided?
Diuretics can be divided into at least a few groups. The diuretics that lower potassium levels come to the fore. Their use may lead to an excessive decrease in the level of this component in the human body, so during their use it is necessary to monitor heart rate and respond to its possible disorders. No wonder that a doctor who prescribes diuretics that represent this group usually also recommends additional potassium supplementation. Diuretics of this kind should be taken with the awareness that they may lead to a decrease in the volume of body fluids or even to the urate bottom.
Another group of diuretics are those that save potassium. However, it may turn out that they also have negative consequences for the patient. In this context, it is most often referred to as an excessive increase in the level of this component in the blood. No wonder that the doctor has to choose not only the right type of drug, but also its dosage. It is assumed that the daily diuresis should not exceed three litres.
Diuretic herbs
Speaking of diuretics, it is also important to mention some plants that contribute to increasing the amount of urine excreted. Such properties include, among others, birch leaf, couch rhizome, bearberry leaf, lovage root, parsley fruit, nettle leaf, horsetail herb and goldenrod herb. These plants are used, among other things, in the practice of kidney stones. They are also part of composite preparations.
It is always worth remembering that diuretic drugs are effective primarily when we have efficient kidneys. Kidney failure therefore means that their administration does not increase diuresis.
