Uric acid is a waste product produced in the body that is mostly eliminated by the kidneys through urine.
A high uric acid level may occur when your kidneys don't eliminate uric acid efficiently. This may be seen in individuals who consume foods rich in uric acid, have too much alcohol, are overweight, have diabetes, take certain medications such as diuretics, or have dysfunctional kidneys.
A person with high uric acid may not always experience symptoms. However, symptoms may appear in people with associated serious health conditions or long-standing uric acid spikes in the blood.
Increased uric acid levels in the blood eventually build up in the tissues, causing health problems.
Sometimes, the following health issues occur suddenly in the body:
Gout (inflammation of a joint) is characterized as:
- Intense joint pain, especially in the first 12-24 hours
- Joint pain that lasts a few days to a few weeks and extends to other joints over time
- Redness, soreness, and swelling around the joint
- Reduced range of motion
Formation of kidney stones: Symptoms and signs include the following:
- Back pain
- Pain in and around the flank
- Increased urination
- Nausea and vomiting
- Changes in urine:
* Cloudiness
* Presence of blood
* Unusual smell
Fever and chill
What is uric acid?
Uric acid is a chemical that is produced by the body when purines are broken down.
Purines are chemical substances that are present in various foods and beverages.
Purine-rich foods include liver, anchovies, mackerel, dry beans and peas, and beer.
Purines are naturally created by the body. They are present in the DNA of the cells, so the cells in the body are damaged and die creating uric acid as a waste product.
Normal uric acid levels:
Women: 2.4 to 6.0 mg/dL
Men: 3.4 to 7.0 mg/dL
Normal values may vary from one laboratory to another.
Diagnosis of uric acid levels is done by analyzing a sample of your blood in the lab.
What is the reason for high uric acid in the blood?
The following are possible causes of high uric acid levels in the blood:
Genetics (running in the family)
Acidosis
Hypoparathyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland)
Excess alcohol intake
Diabetes
Obesity
High blood pressure
Renal failure
Medullary cystic kidney disease
Dehydration, often due to diuretic medicines
Excessive exercise
Purine-rich diet
Polycythemia vera
Leukemia
People with cancer or on chemotherapy (elevated uric acid levels caused due to tumor lysis syndrome)
Immunosuppressants
Lead poisoning
Gender (men are more prone to develop hyperuricemia than women)
Toxemia of pregnancy
Source: www.medicinenet.com