Hyperuricemia: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
Hyperuricemia is a medical condition characterised by high uric acid in the body. Now, uric acid is a waste product that is formed by the breakdown of purines. The body naturally produces purines, but it is also found in certain foods and drinks. Under normal circumstances, uric acid is excreted from the body through urine; however, when the body fails to get rid of enough uric acid, it leads to its accumulation. Excessive build-up of uric acid results in hyperuricemia.
Unaddressed hyperuricemia is a serious health concern and causes complications like kidney stones and gout. Read our blog to learn about the symptoms, causes and hyperuricemic treatment options.
Symptoms Of Hyperuricemia
According to research, most of the patients with hyperuricemia do not have any troublesome symptoms. Most of the times, the warning signs go unnoticed until the condition reaches the advanced stage when hyperuricemia treatment becomes complicated.
When For gout affects the joints, individuals experience the following symptoms.
- Intense pain in the affected parts
- Redness and swelling in the joints
- Joint stiffness
- Deformity in the joints
- Difficulty in mobility
For kidney stones, here are the following symptoms one usually experiences.
- Severe lower back pain
- Blood in urine
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Foul-smelling urine
- Pain while urinating
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Stomach aches
If you experience any of these symptoms or in combination, make sure you get in touch with your healthcare provider without any delay for early diagnosis and treatment.
What Causes Hyperuricemia?
Hyperuricemia or elevated uric acid in the blood can develop from a variety of risk factors. Here are some of them.
- Consumption of purine-rich food: Dietary choices play an important role in the buildup of excessive uric acid in the body. Foods like red meat, seafood, high sugary drinks and certain legumes like beans, soybeans and chickpeas have excess purines.
- Genetics: Some individuals have a genetic predisposition to high uric acid. Hence, a family of hyperuricemia increases the developing the condition.
- Weight: Being overweight increases the body’s production of uric acid and decreases the kidneys’ ability to excrete it.
- Certain medications: Medicines prescribed for hypertension increase the risk of having high uric acid.
- Health issues: Diseases like high blood pressure and chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and heart and kidney diseases interfere with uric acid metabolism, contributing to its elevated levels.
- Age: Men above 50 years are more likely to develop. In women, the onset usually happens after menopause.
Treatment Options For Hyperuricemia
Hyperuricemia treatment depends on its underlying cause, alleviating the symptoms and prevention of the condition.
- Medications: For lowering the uric acid levels, certain medicines are prescribed which work by reducing the production of uric acid or increasing its excretion through the kidneys.
- Lifestyle modifications: Your doctor will recommend lifestyle changes like reducing the intake of purine-rich foods, limiting sugary drinks, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking plenty of water.
- Treating the underlying condition: Managing conditions like kidney disease, hypertension, and obesity helps in reducing uric acid levels.
- Monitoring: Make sure you monitor your uric acid levels at regular intervals to check the effectiveness of the treatment and make necessary adjustments.
Final Words
Managing hyperuricemia is important for preventing complications. By understanding the causes, symptoms and adhering to hyperuricemia treatment options, it is possible to keep uric acid levels under check and lead a healthy life.
