Painful Joints? All You Need to Know About Uric Acid and How it Affects Your Body
Uric acid is present in our blood, but if its levels either goes up or too low than what is manageable then it can cause several health problems. Find out what are the symptoms of high and low levels of uric acid in the body and how can it be treated.
Updated Jun 13, 2023 | 04:33 PM IST
How does the imbalance of Uric acid in the body affects your health
Photo : iStock
Uric acid is a waste product found in the blood. It is created when the body breaks down chemicals called purines. Most uric acid dissolves in the blood, passes through the kidneys and leaves the body when one passes urine. Food and drinks high in purines also increase the level of uric acid. These include:
- Seafood (especially salmon, shrimp, lobster and sardines).
If left untreated, high level of uric acid will eventually lead to permanent bone, joint and tissue damage, kidney disease and heart disease. Research has also shown a link between high uric acid levels and type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and fatty liver disease.
Having some uric acid in the blood is normal. However, if uric acid levels go above or below a healthy range, this can result in health problems. High uric acid levels can increase the risk of gout.
Gout is a form of arthritis. The symptoms come and go, usually affecting just one joint.
People with this condition, experience buildup up of uric acid in the joints and tissues, causing pain, swelling, and discoloration. Gout most commonly affects the toe joints, ankles, and knees.
How uric acid builds up in the body
Purines are chemical substances that occur naturally in the body and in some foods. When the body breaks down purines, this creates uric acid as a waste product. The kidneys filter it from the blood and pass it out of the body in the urine.
Fanconi syndrome
On the other hand, having low uric acid levels is very rare. The most prevalent medical condition causing low uric acid levels is Fanconi syndrome, a rare kidney disease. In people with this condition, the kidneys cannot absorb certain nutrients into the body.
Fanconi syndrome can cause a lack of energy, dehydration, and problems with the bones. A person with this condition will have low uric acid levels because too much of this substance is passing out of the body in the urine.
Symptoms of high and low levels
A person with high or low uric acid levels may not always have symptoms. Symptoms may not appear until a person has had levels outside the normal range for a long period, which can cause health problems.
Symptoms of gout, which high uric acid levels can cause, include:
- Painful or swollen joints
- Back pain
People can take certain simple steps to prevent gout flares including:
- avoiding alcohol
Keeping uric acid levels within a certain range can reduce pain, joint damage, and complications from gout.
How can high uric acid level be managed and prevented?
A long-term program of disease management can help regulate and even stop high uric acid levels and joint pain flare-ups. Your provider can prescribe medications that dissolve the deposits of uric acid crystals. A lifelong urate-lowering therapy may be needed, with medications that prevent gout flares and ultimately dissolve crystals that are already in your body.
Other ways to help manage high uric acid levels include:
- Losing weight, if necessary.
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