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In the management of heart failure, diuretics are primarily used to address fluid overload. Heart failure often leads to congestion and fluid retention due to the heart's inability to effectively pump blood. This results in symptoms such as swelling (edema) in the legs or abdomen and shortness of breath due to fluid accumulation in the lungs.

Diuretics work by promoting the excretion of sodium and water through the kidneys, effectively reducing the overall fluid volume in the body. This helps to alleviate the symptoms associated with fluid overload and improves the patient's quality of life. By decreasing the preload (the volume of blood in the ventricles before contraction), diuretics also help reduce the heart's workload.

While anticoagulants, ACE inhibitors, and beta-blockers play important roles in the management of heart failure, they are not primarily aimed at treating fluid overload. Anticoagulants help prevent blood clots, ACE inhibitors improve heart function and reduce afterload, and beta-blockers slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure. Each of these medication classes contributes to a comprehensive heart failure management strategy, but diuretics are the primary choice for directly managing fluid overload.