Diuretics, sometimes called water pills, help rid your body of sodium and water. They help kidneys excrete more sodium in urine. And the sodium takes water with it from blood. That decreases the amount of fluid flowing through blood vessels, which reduces blood pressure.

Diuretics treat a variety of conditions, such as high blood pressure, glaucoma, congestive heart failure, liver disease, kidney disease and edema.

There are three types of diuretics:

• thiazide,
• loop
• potassium-sparing.

Each works by affecting a different part of kidneys, and each may have different uses, side effects and precautions.