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The Main Causes of High Uric Acid Levels

Max. D Gray
By Max. D Gray. Updated: January 25, 2017
The Main Causes of High Uric Acid Levels

High uric acid or hyperuricemia is due to an excess of this chemical in the blood. This often triggers the formation of crystals in the joints that cause inflammation and pain. Increased uric acid may be due to various factors, both internal and external to the body. Therefore, at OneHowTo we will teach you more about what the main causes of high uric acid levels are.

You may also be interested in: What Are The Symptoms Of High Uric Acid
Steps to follow:
1

First, note that uric acid itself does not cause a problem to your health because it is the body itself which produces this chemical to break down substances called purines. It is when the production of uric acid is excessive or it is not sufficiently removed that problems can occur.

Hyperuricaemia is diagnosed, and known by the layperson as high uric acid levels and is indicated by a blood test. The normal level should range between 2.0-3.4 mg/dL (respectively for women and men). In many cases, there are no symptoms present with high levels of uric acid, so many people are unaware that they have it.

2

Under normal conditions, one third of our uric acid comes from food and the other two thirds come from our body's internal metabolism. So the main causes of high uric acid levels may be:

  • Poor diet (excessive intake of foods rich in purines)
  • Overproduction
  • Defect in the elimination of uric acid
3

One of the most common causes that makes uric acid levels high is your diet. An intake of certain foods high in purines may cause hyperuricemia, so red meat, sausage, seafood etc. should be avoided. A high level of uric acid in the body may be triggered due to a high consumption of diuretic products.

4

Drinking alcohol is also one of the triggers of high uric acid levels. So those with hyperuricemia should avoid drinking alcohol.

The Main Causes of High Uric Acid Levels - Step 4
5

It is also possible that the cause of your high uric acid is the kidney's inability to properly eliminate uric acid from the blood. Therefore the bodies levels will be greater than the normal level of uric acid because of the kidney's problems that prevent its removal.

People with psoriasis are also more prone to a high level of uric acid too. Another reason why you may develop high levels is due to Tumor lysis syndrome, which is common in people who have recently undergone chemotherapy.

In some cases, high levels of uric acid in the blood are due to the existence of a disease or other health problems, such as Fanconi syndrome or Wilson's disease.

6

Some medications can also cause excessive levels of uric acid in the blood. You will need to consult with your doctor about the best treatments for keeping the uric acid at its proper value.

This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to The Main Causes of High Uric Acid Levels, we recommend you visit our Diseases & secondary effects category.

Tips
  • If you are undergoing radiotherapy treatment, your doctor will also take a close look at your uric acid levels in order to keep them within normal levels.

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Jacqueline Mmereki
I just realized that i have high uric acid. What medication should i take for that?
Raj
somehimes pain occurs in my hands or in arm . it feels that this pain occurs in veins
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The Main Causes of High Uric Acid Levels

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