It's Topic Tuesday!

Hi everyone! Today, we’re talking about a group of medications called diuretics—often nicknamed “water pills.” They help many people manage common health problems, but how do they actually work?

What Are Diuretics?

Diuretics are medications that help your body get rid of excess salt (sodium) and water by making you urinate more. Think of them like turning on a faucet that drains extra fluid out of your body. This can help reduce swelling, lower blood pressure, and decrease the strain on your heart.

Why Are Diuretics Used?

High blood pressure (hypertension)
Heart failure
Swelling (edema) from kidney or liver problems
Certain eye conditions (like glaucoma)

Type	How It Works (Simple)	Common Medications	Common Uses
Thiazide diuretics	Gently removes salt and water	Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), Chlorthalidone	High blood pressure, mild swelling; sometimes used long-term after aortic repair to help control blood pressure
Loop diuretics	Strong; removes large amounts of fluid quickly	Furosemide (Lasix), Bumetanide	Heart failure, significant swelling; commonly used after aortic surgery to remove extra fluid and reduce strain on the heart
Potassium-sparing diuretics	Removes fluid but keeps potassium	Spironolactone, Amiloride	Heart failure, hormonal issues, may be used after surgery to prevent low potassium during diuretic therapy
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors	Changes how bicarbonate is handled; mild diuretic	Acetazolamide (Diamox)	Glaucoma, altitude sickness, certain seizures; rarely used directly after aortic surgery
Osmotic diuretics	Pulls water out very quickly	Mannitol	Brain swelling, high eye pressure; in exceptional cases, it may be used during surgery to protect the kidneys, but not routinely after aortic surgery.

After aortic surgery (such as aneurysm repair or dissection treatment), loop diuretics are often used to reduce excess fluid and lower the workload on the healing heart and blood vessels. Controlling blood pressure with diuretics, such as thiazides, can also help protect the aortic repair over the long term.

Fun Fact

Your kidneys filter about 50 gallons (180 liters) of blood every single day — diuretics just tweak this process to help manage fluid balance!

Thanks for joining us this Tuesday! Stay hydrated, stay curious, and keep learning how amazing your body is.#TopicTuesday #Diuretics #WaterPills #HealthEducation

Bibliography

[1] Arumugham VB, Shahin MH. Therapeutic uses of diuretic agents. StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025.

[2] Boehringer-ingelheim.com n.d. https://patient.boehringer-ingelheim.com/us/products/jardiance/chronic-kidney-disease/how-jardiance-works?&msclkid=b1eb5180ba0f10d90f2f39d7de528f19&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=EA_JAR-CKD_DTC_MSADS_US_EN_NONBRAND_GENERIC_TRAFFIC_CONSIDERATION&utm_term=chronic%20kidney%20disease%20medicine&utm_content=Treatment&gclid=b1eb5180ba0f10d90f2f39d7de528f19&gclsrc=3p.ds&gad_source=7 (accessed June 22, 2025).

[3] UpToDate. Uptodate.com n.d. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/loop-diuretics-dosing-and-major-side-effects (accessed June 22, 2025).

[4] Patel P, Preuss CV. Thiazide diuretics. StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025.