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A high uric acid level can be the result of the body making too much uric acid, not getting rid of enough of it or both. Causes of a high uric acid level in the blood include: Diuretics (water retention relievers) Drinking too much alcohol.
Following a gout diet can help limit uric acid production and increase its elimination. A gout diet isn't likely to lower the uric acid concentration in your blood enough to treat your gout without medication. But it may help decrease the number of attacks and limit their severity.
A high uric acid level is too much uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is made during the breakdown of purines. Purines are found in certain foods and are formed by the body. Blood carries uric acid to the kidneys. The kidneys pass most uric acid into the urine, which then leaves the body.
Some people have high uric acid levels, but never experience gout. And some people have signs and symptoms of gout, but don't have unusual levels of uric acid in their blood. X-ray imaging.
Gout occurs when urate crystals accumulate in your joint, causing the inflammation and intense pain of a gout attack. Urate crystals can form when you have high levels of uric acid in your blood. Your body produces uric acid when it breaks down purines — substances that are found naturally in your body.
Allopurinol is used to prevent or lower high uric acid levels in the blood. It is also used to prevent or lower excess uric acid levels caused by cancer medicines or in patients with kidney stones. A high uric acid level can cause gout or gouty arthritis (joint pain and inflammation).
When to see a doctor. A high uric acid level is not a disease. It doesn't always cause symptoms. But a health care provider might check uric acid levels for people who have an attack of gout or have a certain type of kidney stone.
One of the most helpful ways to prevent gout attacks is to maintain a healthy body weight. Research has shown that excess weight is a major risk factor for developing gout. If you are overweight, losing weight can lower uric acid levels in your body and significantly reduce your risk of gout attacks.
The overall goal of gout treatment is to reduce the level of uric acid in the blood to less than 6 milligrams per deciliter. In people with long-standing, aggressive disease, the target is less than 5 milligrams per deciliter.
Niacin can cause an excess of uric acid in the blood (hyperuricemia), putting you at risk of gout. If you're pregnant, don't take prescription niacin for high cholesterol. However, if needed to prevent or treat niacin deficiency, niacin is likely safe to take during pregnancy and in breast-feeding women when used in recommended amounts.