Maintain Your Uric Acid Levels and Stay Healthy!

What is Uric Acid?

Uric acid is a natural substance found in the human body. It is produced when the body breaks down purines, which are found in certain foods. Purines are found in many foods including meats, fish, and some vegetables. When you eat these foods, your body absorbs the purines and uses them to build new cells and tissues.

Uric acid is typically excreted in the urine, but when levels become too high, it can lead to health problems. High uric acid levels can cause gout, kidney stones, and other problems. Maintaining healthy uric acid levels is important for overall health.

Uric Acid Levels: How are They Determined?

Uric acid levels can be tested through a blood test, urine test, or a combination of both. Different methods are used to collect samples at different times of the day and in different situations. Understanding how uric acid levels are determined can help you interpret your results.

1. Blood Test:

A blood test is the most reliable way to measure uric acid levels. A sample of blood is drawn and sent to a lab.

2. Urine Test: 

A urine sample is collected and sent to the lab for evaluation, later the results are obtained by urine test.

Uric acid levels are measured in mg/dL. Levels above 6 mg/dL are considered high, while levels below 3 mg/dL are considered low.

A level between 3 and 6 mg/dL is considered the "normal" range.

It is important to remember that there is a wide range of normal values for people.

What Causes Uric Acid to fluctuate?

Uric acid levels fluctuate in response to several factors. These include:

• Your diet
• Physical activity.
• How much water do you drink
• How much salt (sodium) do you ingest

Over time, these changes can lead to an increase in uric acid levels or a decrease in healthy levels. Some of the common causes of high uric acid levels are:

1. Kidney problems

2. Eating too much protein

3. Alcoholism

4. Certain medication

High levels of uric acid can cause deposits of the compound silica to form in the body. This is called gout.

Risk Factors for High Uric Acid Levels

Uric acid levels can also be affected by medications, illness, and other health conditions. If you have diabetes, kidney disease, and high levels of alcohol in your body, your uric acid level may be higher.

Lifestyle changes can help lower the levels of uric acid in your body.

The risk factors for high uric acid levels are not well understood. The following are some of the major risk factors that have been identified:

-Lack of physical activity

-High intake of animal protein

-Excessive alcohol consumption

-Kidney failure

Symptoms of The High Uric Acid Level

A high uric acid level is called Hyperuricemia caused due to the rise of uric acid in the body.

The following symptoms may indicate a problem with high uric acid:

1. Pain and inflammation in the joints also known as Gout
2. Dryness of skin
3. Unexplained fatigue
4. Nausea and excessive burping.
5. Blurred vision.
6. Muscle cramps.
7. Metal or stone tastes in the mouth.

How to Treat High Uric Acid?

Doctors have several options for treating high uric acid. Your doctor may recommend one or more of the following treatments:

1. Medication.
2. Lifestyle changes.
3. Weight loss.

Many people with high uric acid also benefit from a low-purine diet. This means limiting foods with high purines and consuming foods rich in antioxidants, such as fruits and vegetables.
Doctors may prescribe medication to help reduce uric acid levels.

Lifestyle changes and medication can help balance uric acid levels and keep you healthy.
Prevention is the best way to avoid gout, kidney stones, and other health problems related to high uric acid.

Here are a few things you need to follow for a High Uric Acid 

1. Eat foods rich in antioxidants.
2. Limit foods high in purines.
3. Limit alcohol.
4. Limit the amount of sodium you eat.
5. Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables.
6. Eat smaller meals several times a day.
7. Don't skip meals.
8. Drink plenty of water.
9. Follow an exercise routine consistent with your fitness level.

After your doctor determines that you have high uric acid levels, he or she may prescribe medications to alter your body's natural processes. Medications include:
Allopurinol: This drug is used to reduce uric acid levels in patients with hyperuricemia (high levels of uric acid in the blood) and gout. It is taken by mouth and can cause GI upset. Book uric acid test with metropolis.