Looking for symptoms and causes of high uric acid level in the body? The blood uric acid concentration increases due to the breakdown of cells or purine-rich diet that ultimately contributes to uric acid concentration. Under normal circumstances, the kidney helps eliminate uric acid from the body. Still, due to various reasons, if the kidney fails to eliminate uric acid, then uric acid crystals get deposited in the joints resulting in pain and inflammation.
High uric acid or hyperuricemia may not always produce symptoms. High uric acid concentration is not a disease, but persistent high concentration can result in gout and kidney stones.
Symptoms and Causes of High Uric Acid Level
- Intense joint pain
- The pain spreads to joints over a period
- Swelling of joints (fingers, toes, hands, and elbows)
- Redness and tenderness
- Joint stiffness
- Back pain that radiates towards the groin due to kidney stones
- Blood in urine due to kidney stones
- Deposition of uric acid stones in skin
- Misshapen joints
Environmental and genetic factors cause gout. It can also be due to the side effects of certain medications.
The Common Causes of High Uric Acid Level
1. Diuretics
These drugs help remove excess water from the body and are prescribed to reduce blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and edema.
They are water retention relievers that help reduce fluid buildup in the body. The decreased water amount of body fluid increases the concentration of uric acid in the body, forming crystals in the joint resulting in gout.
2. Genetics
Gout is often associated with genetic diseases; people suffering from high uric acid suffer from gout attacks.
Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid): There is a direct relationship between thyroid function and purine metabolism. Increased cell metabolism results in increased uric acid concentration
3. Renal Insufficiency
Kidneys are responsible for regulating blood pressure and blood composition. The organic waste is filtered through the kidney and flushed out of the body.
The kidneys may not perform the normal function due to renal artery disease, low blood pressure, hemolytic uremic syndrome, etc. Renal insufficiency increases blood uric acid concentration.
Increased weight adds a burden on the kidneys to work more than usual to eliminate uric acid.
4. Tumor Lysis Syndrome
Cancer has emerged as one of the deadly diseases that slowly affects the overall functioning of the body.
Cancer-affected cells and, during chemotherapy, are released into the bloodstream due to an increased turnover rate of cell death.
If any of the high uric acid symptoms are persistent and are spreading to joints, then it is likely that you are suffering from gout or uric acid kidney stones.
The diagnosis is made through blood tests and X-ray examinations. The most appropriate method is to extract the fluid from the joints and examine the crystals under the microscope.
Health Risks Associated with High Uric Acid
It results in gout, tophaceous gout, and kidney stones. In Gout, uric acid crystals get deposited in the joint, and the gout attacks can be isolated attacks or flares.
Tophaceous Gouts are uric acid deposition under the skin, around the joints, or at the top of the ear producing immense pain.
In some instances, the uric acid crystals get deposited in the kidneys, small stones pass through urine, but big stones can block the urinary tract.
Treatment for High uric acid
It is essential to identify the exact cause of the high uric acid concentrations; NSAIDs have helped control pain and inflammation.
In certain cases, steroids are also prescribed. Allopurinol and colchicines are traditionally used to control gout.
Apart from allopathic medicines, high uric acid concentrations can be controlled with herbal and ayurvedic medicines. Occult a good physician and avoid self-medications.
Also Read: how to decrease uric acid
How to Control High Uric Acid
✔ Keep yourself hydrated; drink about 10 glasses of water to eliminate uric acid in urine quickly. This prevents the formation of uric acid crystals in the body
✔ Diet also plays a significant role in maintaining uric acid levels in the body. Purine-rich diet anchovies, sardines, gravy, liver, organ meat, seafood (Scallops, crab, shrimp), brewer’s yeast and other yeast supplements, etc., increase blood uric acid should be avoided in people who are at risk of developing gout.
✔ The purine-rich diet increases uric acid and also the risk of gout attacks.
✔ Consume fresh fruits and vegetables that are rich in fibers. Eat foods that are rich in antioxidants. Food supplements of Vitamin C and E are recommended. Apples, bananas, grapes, berries, pineapples, beetroot, carrot, and cucumber should be a part of regular food.
✔ Drinking alcohol in moderation can help in reducing the risk of heart diseases. But excess alcohol is bad for health. They are the source of purines that break down to form uric acid in the body. Beer is more associated with high uric acid concentration. Alcohol increases the production of lactic acid and uric acid.
✔ Nicotinic acid, a form of niacin, can increase uric acid concentration in the blood and puts you at risk of developing gout. Niacin is prescribed to lower bad cholesterol and reduces the risk of a heart attack in such patients. It is essential to monitor blood uric acid levels when on a niacin prescription.
✔ During pain, attacks keep your limbs in the upward position
✔ Take adequate pain killers as prescribed and do the necessary follow-up care
✔ Obesity is a predisposing factor for several diseases; it is essential to maintain a healthy weight. Obese people have to produce more insulin to control blood sugars.
✔ The increased insulin levels make it difficult the elimination of uric acid from the body. Hence it is essential to control weight.
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If you are suffering from joint pain and there is a spread to other joints, then it is likely that you are suffering from high uric acid levels in the blood. It can be due to gout.
The uric acid crystals get deposited, resulting in pain and inflammation. Certain medications and food can be the causative factors, but measures can be taken to control them.
Fresh fruits and vegetables, hydration, weight control, avoiding alcohol intake, and information on prescribed medicines can help control high uric acid levels in the body.
So, friends, we hope that going through the above symptoms and causes of high uric acid level will surely help you.
