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Hydrochlorothiazide, also called by the short-hand terms hydrochlorot or HCTZ, is a diuretic primarily used to relieve fluid retention caused by various disorders. It is usually prescribed to be taken once daily and is provided in tablets and capsules of various dosages. Hydrochlorot is available in generic form and as several brand names including Ezide and Microzide.

1. Edema

   • Hydrochlorothiazide is prescribed to reduce fluid retention, or edema, caused by congestive heart failure and kidney disorders, and from taking medications such as steroids or estrogen. Edema usually occurs in the feet, ankles and lower legs, but can affect other parts of the body as well. Hydrochlorot blocks salt and fluid re-absorption in the kidneys and causes increased urine output.

   High Blood Pressure

   • Another common use for hydrochlorot is reducing high blood pressure, which helps prevent serious cardiovascular conditions such as heart attacks and strokes, as well as kidney problems. Researchers have not fully determined why the drug decreases high blood pressure, and also why it does not affect normal blood pressure. Theories include reduction in blood volume and cardiac output that result from sodium being eliminated through urine, and also that the drug may be able to directly widen blood vessels.

   Kidney Stones

   • Doctors can legally prescribe medications for uses not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), called off-label use. One of these uses for hydrochlorot is preventing calcium-containing kidney stones, as the drug reduces the amount of calcium in urine.

   Ménière's Disease

   • Physicians also sometimes prescribe hydrochlorot to relieve symptoms of Ménière's disease, a condition characterized by too much fluid and pressure in the inner ear. This disorder can cause extreme dizziness and vertigo, and it affects balance and hearing.

   Edema During Pregnancy

   • Taking diuretics during pregnancy usually is not recommended, and any edema should be resolved by wearing support hose and elevating the legs. However, if a pregnant woman experiences edema from a disease-related (pathologic), cause, a doctor might prescribe medication such as hydrochlorot. Hydrochlorot also may be prescribed if the fluid retention causes extreme discomfort which is not alleviated by other methods.

High blood pressure can spell out some pretty serious things for you if you have it. It increases the chance that you will have a heart attack or stroke. But there are less severe side effects of high blood pressure that can affect your life daily. A person with high blood pressure may experience bouts of dizziness.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. • 1

     Drink lots of water or other fluids that will hydrate your body. Often, a person with high blood pressure will feel dizzy because his body's blood pressure is dropping. One cause of that drop in the normally high blood pressure is a lack of hydration. This also occurs in people with normal blood pressure but to a lesser degree. It's safe to say, though, that it's always a good idea to stay hydrated no matter what state of health you are in.

   • 2

     Patch up wounds as quickly as possible. It should go without saying that if you are bleeding profusely, you should make it stop as fast as you can. The loss of too much blood can eventually lead to death, but first it will lead to a drop in blood pressure that will make you both cold and dizzy. Use your common sense and slap on a Band-Aid or apply gauze and go to the hospital if the wound is very serious.

   • 3

     Change posture carefully. Everyone has felt a little bit dizzy after sitting for a while and then quickly standing up. With high blood pressure, that dizziness becomes severe and can lead to a major accident. If you fall down and seriously injure yourself, it can possibly lead to death if no one discovers you.

   • 4

     Lower your cholesterol by eating heart healthy foods. If a food is potentially good for lowering your cholesterol, it will advertise that fact on its box. In the advertiser's eyes, people with high blood pressure are a captivated audience that has their health to motivate them to buy healthy products.

   • 5

     Exercise regularly to lower your blood pressure. At first, it is not advised to do a lot of heavy workouts. That is a quick way to become dizzy and fall over or to have a heart attack. Instead, gradually work your way up to an exercise regimen that is good for you.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Living with high blood pressure
• Additional dizziness information