Before getting to know about how high uric acid levels can devastatingly influence health and well-being, it is essential to know about uric acid. Basically, uric acid is a waste product, and it is removed from the body in the form of urine through the kidneys.
Uric acid is the result of the breakdown of chemicals such as Purines. As these chemical reactions are constantly taking place in the body, some uric acid level is normally present in the blood. However, when these levels exceed beyond normal limits, then it results in problems.
Causes Of High Uric Acid Level
Let us know about the causes of high uric acid levels. There are some general causes and some less common causes that can possibly increase uric acid levels. Generally, a high uric acid level indicates that kidneys cannot remove uric acid from the blood effectively.
Many times it is beyond personal control, and a high uric acid level is actually hereditary. It may also accompany other conditions such as diabetes, obesity, hyperthyroidism, and psoriasis. Furthermore, a bad lifestyle may also result in high uric acid levels. A common example includes a habit of excessive drinking.
1. Purine Rich Food
There are certain foods that are purine-rich. Excessively consuming such foods on a routine basis can certainly result in high uric acid levels. A few examples of purine-rich food sources include
- Some seafood such as salmon, sardines, shrimps, and lobsters
- Red meat and, more specifically, organ meat
- Alcoholic beverages
- Drinks that are higher in fructose
It is, therefore, necessary to limit the intake of purine-rich food. Skipping purine food sources is also not advisable. It is because purine-rich food sources also offer many health benefits. So managing a balance is very crucial
2. Alcohol
Research supports a good connection between alcohol intake, gout, and other uric acid diseases. However, not everyone drinking alcohol will develop these conditions. The body breaks down alcohol into purines and hence increases the uric acid level in the body.
In addition to disturbing the levels of uric acid in the body, alcohol is otherwise injurious to health. It is thus very essential to give up on alcohol for a healthier life. A person can acquire addiction treatment from different states. For example, if you are living in Texas, you can get treatment from rehab centers located in Texas to get sober.
3. Genetics
Often genetics is responsible for high uric acid levels and diseases associated with it, such as gout, hyperuricemia. You are more likely to develop such issues if these diseases exist in any of close relatives or family members.
The risk factor is further increased with a poor lifestyle. Researchers suggest that other health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and kidney problems may also result in an imbalance in normal uric acid levels.
Symptoms
Uric acid, a waste product, is constantly produced in the body. The problem occurs when an excess of uric acid is produced in the body, or the body is unable to remove uric acid from the body properly. The disturbance in the normal level of uric acid leads to many problems.
In severe cases, the disturbance in uric acid level results in gout and hyperuricemia, but before that, initial symptoms can help in the diagnosis of this issue. Some common symptoms of high uric acid levels include
- Sharp joint pain
- Numbness in joints
- Inflammation and redness
- Difficulty in joint mobility
- Swelling and tenderness in one or more joints
Risk Factors
There are various risk factors that increase the likelihood of an imbalance in normal uric acid levels. It is essential to know about such risk factors and make healthy adjustments accordingly. This will help to avoid diseases associated with an imbalance in normal uric acid levels.
These risk factors involve certain lifestyle, hereditary, health, and dietary factors. Let us have a quick overview of these risk factors.
1. Diet
We have previously discussed how diet causes high uric acid levels. Certain dietary habits also increase the risk factor of developing high uric acid levels and other diseases. Most diets that are rich in red and organ meat, along with excessive consumption of high fructose beverages and juices, lead to an increase in uric acid levels.
2. Weight
A person who is either overweight or obese is more likely to develop the issue of high uric acid levels. The kidneys of overweight and obese people have to work even harder to efficiently remove uric acid from the body, and thus weight increases the risk factor.
3. Medical Conditions
Certain medical conditions directly or indirectly onset other health issues. Diabetes, chronic kidney problems, obesity, and untreated hypertension might also increase the risk factor for high uric acid levels in the body. It is therefore essential to handle such medical conditions wisely.
4. Certain Medications
There are certain medications such as aspirin and immune-suppressing drugs, which also increase the risk factor of developing high-level uric acid in the body. Hence it is very crucial to avoid prolonged usage of drugs and medications. Stop using unnecessary medications because it might result in other health issues.
5. Age And Gender
Researchers suggest that men are at higher risk of developing uric acid issues as compared to women. Women have low uric acid levels, but after menopause, the risk factor increases for women too. However, unlike women, men have a risk of developing uric acid issues during earlier years between the ages of 30 and 50 years.
6. Recent Surgery Or Trauma
Though it is rare in many people, previous surgery or trauma may also trigger gout and gout flare. In a few, receiving a vaccination dose may also result in gout.
Take Away
If the body does not sufficiently remove uric acid out of the body, then it takes the form of crystals. These uric crystals are stored in the body in joint areas. Another way is that kidneys do not efficiently remove uric acid out from the body. Either way, the result is a high uric acid level in the body which is responsible for gout and hyperuricemia.
