Why uric acid level high

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Symptoms High uric acid level. Sections Basics Definition Causes When to see a doctor. Definition Causes When to see a doctor. This may repeatedly get worse and then get better. The pain may also travel to your genitals. You may have other tests to check for gout. For example, you may have a sample of joint fluid drawn out with a needle.

You may also have a urinalysis if your healthcare provider thinks that you have a kidney stone. The urinalysis looks for blood, white blood cells, and crystals. You may have tests of your blood and urine to find out what's causing the high levels uric acid. Test results may vary depending on your age, gender, health history, the method used for the test, and other things. Your test results may not mean you have a problem. Ask your healthcare provider what your test results mean for you.

You may have too much uric acid in your blood hyperuricemia if your results are:. Your uric acid levels may be high if you eat foods high in purines. These include organ meats, dried beans and peas, and fish such as anchovies, herring, sardines, and mackerel. High levels can also be caused by a low-salt diet.

The test is done with a blood sample. A needle is used to draw blood from a vein in your arm or hand. Having a blood test with a needle carries some risks. These include bleeding, infection, bruising, and feeling lightheaded. When the needle pricks your arm or hand, you may feel a slight sting or pain.

Purines are found in high levels in some foods such as:. Normally, your body filters out uric acid through your kidneys and in urine. A high uric acid level is known as hyperuricemia. This can lead to a disease called gout that causes painful joints that accumulate urate crystals.

It can also make your blood and urine too acidic. You can limit the source of uric acid in your diet. Purine-rich foods include some types of meat, seafood, and vegetables.

Find tips for following a low-purine diet here. While uric acid is usually linked to protein-rich foods, recent studies show that sugar may also be a potential cause. Added sugars to food include table sugar, corn syrup, and high fructose corn syrup, among others.

The sugar fructose is a main type of simple sugar in processed and refined foods. Researchers have found that this type of sugar in particular could lead to high levels of uric acid. Check food labels for added sugars. Eating more whole foods and fewer refined packaged foods can also help you cut out sugars while allowing you to intake a more wholesome diet. Sugary drinks , soda, and even fresh fruit juices are concentrated with fructose and glucose-containing sugar.

This is similar to the ratio of 50 percent fructose and 50 percent glucose in table sugar. Fructose from refined sugar in juice or other foods is absorbed faster than sugar from foods that have a natural makeup that need to be broken down in your body.

The faster absorption of refined sugars spikes your blood sugar levels and also leads to higher amounts of uric acid. Replace sugary drinks with filtered water and fiber-rich smoothies. Drinking plenty of fluids helps your kidneys flush out uric acid faster. Keep a water bottle with you at all times. Set an alarm every hour to remind you to take a few sips. Drinking alcohol can make you more dehydrated.

It can also trigger high uric acid levels. This happens because your kidneys must first filter out products that occur in the blood due to alcohol instead of uric acid and other wastes. Along with your diet, extra pounds can raise uric acid levels. Fat cells make more uric acid than muscle cells. Additionally, carrying extra pounds makes it harder for your kidneys to filter out uric acid.

Losing weight too quickly can also affect levels. Talk to a nutritionist about a healthy diet and weight loss plan that you can follow. Your doctor can recommend a healthy weight goal for your body type. Have your blood sugar level checked when you visit your doctor.