You’ve probably heard many times about hyperuricemia, which is a large excess of uric acid in the blood.
But do you know what it is exactly? Why do such conditions occur? And how does it threaten health?
High uric acid: causes, symptoms and treatment
Uric acid is formed in the body as a result of the metabolism of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA).
Although a small portion is formed during the breakdown of purine, a type of protein present in the food we eat.
The more protein we get, the more uric acid the body produces.
Uric acid usually does not cause health problems if it is functionally excreted by the kidneys.
The problem arises when its level increases.
This is when the body produces too much uric acid or doesn’t remove it properly.
In this case, hard crystals form and settle on the joints, causing severe pain.
The main causes of increased uric acid content:
Excessive production by the body itself;
Kidney excretion problems;
Improper nutrition with an excess of protein-rich foods;
Consumption of alcohol and other harmful substances.
In addition, there are several risk factors that increase the likelihood of the disease:
Regular use of large amounts of caffeine;
Constant alcohol consumption;
Family history of gout;
Use of iodine X-ray contrast;
Stressful situations;
High blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol.
Symptoms
High uric acid levels may not cause symptoms.
Although one of the main consequences of this problem is the appearance of gout, due to the accumulation of acid crystals deposited in the joints.
Other symptoms:
Joint pain, swelling and redness;
Difficulty moving joints, especially in the fingers, knees, ankles, heels, and toes;
Deformities occur in severely affected joints;
Stubborn kidney stones are also common.
This causes deep, severe pain in the lower back and difficulty urinating.
Treatment
Treatment aimed at normalizing uric acid.
