Facts about Using Diuretics for Weight Loss

There is a vast majority of people who desire for significant weight loss in a short period of time. Many aspiring to narrow down their waistline try various methods to achieve their goal of weight loss. Diuretics are one of them.

They are often used for quick weight loss, especially when someone tries to enhance his/her appearance from an unhappy chubby look to an athletic one, for a special event or social gathering that they want to attend.

It is trendy among those who want immediate weight loss. However diuretics are not prescribed by the doctors as a medication for weight loss.

Diuretics are medicines that reduce water content in the body. There are varieties of these special drugs, which are popularly known as “water tablets” or “water pills”.

Doctors prescribe diuretics to treat a number of heart related diseases, including high blood pressure, heart failure, kidney and liver problems, and glaucoma. They reduce water retention in the tissues of the body and cures people with diseases that cause fluid retention in their bodies.

[Read:Dangers of Using Diuretics for Weight Loss]

These medicines act on kidneys to increase the rate of urination and sodium excretion to adjust the volume and composition of body fluids. For patients with high blood pressure, these drugs help body to get rid of water that is not needed and salt through the urine.

Getting rid of excess salt and fluid helps lower blood pressure and can make it easier for heart to pump.

Despite that there are a number of side effects which have been found in diuretics users. Abusive use of these drugs may lead to breathing problems, unusual tiredness or weakness, weak or heavy feeling in the legs, constipation, sore throat, muscle weakness, weak pulse, numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, confusion or nervousness.

Diuretic users for weight loss may feel optimistic for a moment when they see the desired results but in reality they only lose body fluid which is what diuretics instigate, is very temporary.

Up to 60% of a person's body weight is water. Knowing this fact, and that diuretics expel water, it's easy to see why taking water pills makes you lose weight.

These drugs cause abnormal kidney functioning and twist the electrolyte balance in the body. Excess loss of body fluids can be harmful for successful execution of renal functions as it uses water for excretion of urea, toxins and other wastes produced in the body.

Lack of water may also cause chronic dehydration. It is widespread in the present day and causes symptoms such as fatigue, energy loss, high and low blood pressure, digestive disorders, acid-alkaline imbalance, respiratory trouble, rheumatism as possible repercussions of diuretic abuse.

[Read:Exercises for Quick Weight Loss]

“It is unsafe to use diuretics without prescription. They may increase rate of elimination of potassium, resulting in low level of potassium in the body.  Except potassium-sparing versions, all diuretics cause a loss of potassium, Lower level of potassium needs further treatment, if left untreated,  it causes  irregular heartbeat, nausea, dry mouth, cramps in the muscles and frequent urination. Weight loss with use of diuretics is not permanent as it only reduces the body fluid. You cannot shed kilos in a day or two by any means. It is better to exercise and eat a balanced diet than using zingy methods to lose weight,” informs Dr. Aditya kumar, M.B.B.S., Institute of Medical sciences, Banaras Hindu University, (B.H.U.)

Discontinuation of the pills may lead to regaining of shed kilos. As soon as we eat or drink something the body moves towards the natural body equilibrium. A major weight loss cannot be achieved in a short time period. Diuretics is not one of the best options to practice a healthy weight loss, it may lead the person to unwanted distress and unsatisfied results.

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