Ace the Cardiac Vascular Nursing Exam 2025 – Pump Up Your Success!

Thiazide diuretics are commonly prescribed for hypertension and heart failure due to their ability to reduce fluid overload and lower blood pressure. However, one known undesirable effect associated with thiazide diuretics is the potential for gout. This occurs because thiazides can lead to an increase in uric acid levels, which may precipitate gout attacks in susceptible individuals. Gout is characterized by sudden and severe pain in the joints, often starting with the big toe.

Severe hyponatremia, while a possible effect of diuretics, is not specifically associated with thiazides compared to other diuretics like loop diuretics. However, thiazides can lead to mild hyponatremia due to their mechanism of action, which involves fluid and electrolyte balance.

In contrast, severe hyperkalemia is typically associated with potassium-sparing diuretics rather than thiazides, as thiazides promote the excretion of potassium. Asthma exacerbation is not a commonly recognized side effect of thiazide diuretics, and while heart failure may be a consideration in patients with volume overload, thiazides are actually used to manage this condition rather than cause it.

Thus, gout is a direct and notable risk