When considering the use of diuretics in heart failure patients, what is the primary goal of therapy?

The primary goal of using diuretics in heart failure patients is to relieve symptoms of congestion. Heart failure often leads to fluid retention due to increased pressure in the blood vessels, which can result in swelling (edema) and pulmonary congestion. Diuretics work by promoting the excretion of sodium and water through the kidneys, effectively reducing the volume of fluid in the body. This reduction helps alleviate symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling, which are directly linked to congestion.

While increasing urine output is a result of diuretic therapy, it is not the ultimate goal; rather, it is a means to achieve symptom relief. Improving cardiac output is an important consideration in heart failure management, but it is more about the underlying heart function than the immediate effects of diuretics. Additionally, while diuretics may have some influence on the incidence of arrhythmias by correcting volume overload, this is not their primary function in the context of heart failure. Therefore, the focus remains on alleviating the symptoms associated with fluid overload to enhance the patient's quality of life.