Increase in Blood Pressure
Some
diet pills that contain caffeine or other stimulants may also increase
blood pressure. This can be harmful to people who are taking blood
pressure medicine or trying to follow a diet to decrease their blood
pressure. Because many diet pills contain stimulants, the blood pressure
may begin to rise by several points, especially during the peak
effectiveness of the diet pill. Because blood pressure signs can go
undetected, diet-pill takers may be unaware that the pill is causing
this type of body change.
Tachycardia
Tachycardia
is also referred to as rapid, or sometimes irregular, heart rate. While
many things can cause this, a diet pill can cause the heart rate to
rise significantly. The dieter may begin to feel a little jittery at
first, and the heart rate can speed out of control quite quickly.
Anything above 125 beats per minute can be considered tachycardia. Some
people have reported having beats in the 200 range from taking one diet
pill. If the heart is beating fast, it can also feel as if it is
skipping beats or beating irregularly. This condition can be dangerous
if not addressed promptly by a medical professional.
Diuretic
Some
diet pills are natural diuretics. This means they cause the body to
expel fluid via urination. While losing a small amount of water weight
isn't harmful, repeated usage can cause an excessive loss of
electrolytes and nutrients within the body, including potassium and
sodium, and can be dangerous. In order to ensure that the body receives
enough fluids throughout the dieting process, replace fluids by drinking
eight 8-oz. glasses of water per day.