High Uric Acid Symptoms: Early Signs of Hyperuricaemia

High Uric Acid Symptoms: How Elevated Levels Affect Your Health

When uric acid levels become high, it leads to several health problems. The most common high uric acid symptoms are kidney stones and gout. However, it can be brought under control by adopting healthy lifestyle practices.

Did you know that approximately 22.5% of the Indian population has hyperuricaemia, or high uric acid? When left unchecked, elevated uric acid levels can quietly damage your health for years before the symptoms appear. In this article, we will talk about related high uric acid symptoms in your body.

What is uric acid?

Uric acid is a type of waste product that is present in the blood. It gets created when the body breaks down purines. Purines are substances that are naturally present in our bodies and certain types of foods. While the presence of some level of uric acid in the bloodstream is normal and necessary, an excess can cause health risks.

Symptoms of High Uric Acid Levels

High uric acid, or 'hyperuricaemia', does not often show many symptoms. Hence, people do not generally realise they have the condition until it leads to health complications like kidney stones or gout.

1. Kidney Stones as Uric Acid High Symptoms

Kidney stones refer to hard, insoluble masses found in the kidneys. They can be caused by higher levels of uric acid and can manifest in the following ways:

• Frequent urge to urinate
• Vomiting or nausea
• Pain on either side of the back
• Cloudy urine
• Presence of blood in urine
   

2. Symptoms of Gout Due to High Uric Acid Levels

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis. It happens due to higher levels of uric acid in an individual. Here are a few high uric acid symptoms of gout that show up:

• Swollen or painful joints
• Joints that feel warm to the touch (due to inflammation)
• Discolouration around the region of joints
   

Levels of Uric Acid

Measurement of uric acid levels in the blood is done in milligrams per decilitre. The table below showcases the different levels of uric acid in both males and females:

Causes of High Uric Acid

The exact reasons for the accumulation of uric acid are unclear. However, the following risk factors contribute to it:

• Diet and Lifestyle: Foods rich in purines, such as seafood, alcoholic beverages, and red meats, can increase uric acid levels. Another factor is leading a sedentary lifestyle with limited physical activity.
• Genetics and Family History: Genetics plays a role as well. If there is a history of high uric acid in your family and health conditions like gout, then the risk increases.
• Medical Conditions: Having pre-existing conditions like obesity, kidney disease, hypertension, and diabetes increases the risk of getting uric acid.

Health Complications of High Uric Acid Levels

High uric acid levels lead to a vast range of complications. Even though the condition is not a disease in itself, when left untreated, it can lead to adverse complications. Here is a list of some of the diseases that it can lead to:

• Cardiovascular Risks: Even with ongoing research, there have been studies that showed a positive association between cardiovascular diseases and uric acid. High uric acid can contribute towards stress and chronic inflammation that causes the development and progression of heart diseases. For instance, an individual with high uric acid levels is at a higher risk of getting a heart attack and stroke.
• Tophaceous Gout: Tophaceous gout involves the formation of tophi—chalky deposits of monosodium urate crystals—in joints and soft tissues. The symptoms of tophus gout appear as pain, stiffness, inflammation and redness in joints. In some cases, there can also be deformity in the region.
• Kidney Stones: Uric acid stones are a form of kidney stone. It happens due to elevated levels of uric acid in the body, which leads to the formation of small stones. They lead to severe pain while peeing and even cause a discharge of blood in the pee. The smaller uric acid stones pass on their own. However, the bigger ones require treatment.
• Metabolic Syndrome: High uric acid also leads to metabolic syndrome. There have been numerous studies on this to suggest a positive correlation between the two conditions. The higher the level of uric acid in an individual, the greater the chance of them getting metabolic syndrome.

Diagnostic Tests for Uric Acid Levels

When experiencing joint pain, kidney-related symptoms and swelling, the doctor can recommend the following tests to assess high uric acid symptoms:

• Blood Test– A blood test measures the level of uric acid in the blood and helps to diagnose conditions such as gout and hyperuricaemia.
• Joint Fluid Test– If gout is suspected, then fluid is drawn from an affected joint to check for the presence of uric acid crystals.
• Urine Test– It checks the amount of uric acid excreted by the kidneys. Additionally, it helps to determine whether the high uric acid is due to the result of excess production or poor elimination.
• Ultrasound or X-ray– They can detect the presence of joint damage caused by a long-term acid buildup or for the identification of kidney stones.
   

Ways to Reduce High Uric Acid Levels

Apart from taking medications to bring uric acid levels under control, certain lifestyle measures can help curb the condition. Here are a few of them:

• Limit Purine-Rich Foods: Purine-rich foods like organ meats, red meat, poultry, fish and shellfish should be avoided. It is because they contribute to high levels of uric acid after digestion.
• Avoid Sugary Foods: Fructose metabolism in the liver accelerates purine nucleotide degradation, indirectly increasing uric acid production. It increases the level of uric acid in the body and leads to adverse health risks. A great way to replace sugary drinks is to have coffee without sugar and unsweetened drinks.
• Ensure Proper Hydration: Drinking enough water is essential and helps the kidneys to flush out toxins faster. This is because our kidneys filter about 70% of the uric acid in the body.
• Avoid Alcohol Intake: Drinking alcohol makes our body dehydrated, and this triggers higher levels of uric acid. Certain types of alcohol have a higher content of purine, such as beer. However, even alcohol that is lower in purines contributes to purine production, which is harmful to health.
• Maintain a Healthy Weight: A study shows that more than 1 billion people in the world live with obesity. Excess weight is a direct factor that contributes to high uric acid levels and causes the kidneys to work a bit less efficiently. It also increases uric acid production and decreases the passing of uric acid through urine.
• Regularly Monitor Uric Acid Levels: If you have a history of kidney stones, gout, or uric acid, then getting blood tests regularly can help track the accumulation of uric acid. Additionally, it can be positively helpful to keep a journal about health triggers, patterns of diet and flare-ups, as they are crucial for long-term management.
   

Final Words

Managing high uric acid symptoms requires dietary and lifestyle changes. However, it is better to personalise the discussed guidelines regarding individual health situations and the severity of the condition. If you notice any high uric acid symptoms, then it will be better to consult a healthcare expert promptly.