Do you have high uric acid and don't know it?

(Dan Tri) - Hyperuricemia often causes no symptoms. Most people do not know they have the disease until uric acid levels in the blood are high enough to cause gout or kidney stones.

What is high uric acid?

Whenever you eat, your body absorbs essential things, such as protein and vitamins, and excretes waste. One of those wastes is uric acid.

High uric acid levels are a condition in which there is too much uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is produced during the breakdown of purines. Purines are found in some foods and are synthesized by the body.

The blood carries uric acid to the kidneys. The kidneys excrete most of the uric acid in the urine, which is then excreted from the body.

High uric acid levels may be associated with gout or kidney stones. However, most people with high uric acid levels do not have symptoms of any of these conditions or related problems.

To reduce uric acid in the blood, you can limit foods rich in purines (Illustration: Thriva).

What are the symptoms of hyperuricemia?

According to Clevelandclinic , hyperuricemia itself usually causes no symptoms. Most people don't know they have the condition until uric acid levels in their blood become high enough to cause gout or kidney stones.

Symptoms of a gout attack in one of the joints include severe pain, redness or discoloration of the joint, stiffness, swelling, tenderness, even with light touch..

Symptoms of kidney stones include pain in the lower back or hips, nausea or vomiting due to pain, fever or chills, blood in the urine, pain when urinating, inability to urinate, feeling the need to urinate more often, and foul-smelling or cloudy urine.

Causes of high uric acid

According to the Mayo Clinic, high uric acid levels can result from the body making too much uric acid, not excreting enough, or both.

Causes of high uric acid levels in the blood include:

- Diuretics.

- Drink too much alcohol.

- Drinking too much soda or eating too many foods that contain fructose, a type of sugar.

- Genetics.

- High blood pressure (hypertension).

- Immunosuppressants.

- Kidney problems.

- Leukemia.

- Metabolic syndrome.

- Obesity.

- Polycythemia vera, a type of blood cancer.

- Psoriasis.

- A diet rich in purines, foods such as liver, game meat, anchovies and sardines.

- Tumor lysis syndrome, a rapid release of cells into the blood caused by certain cancers or chemotherapy for those cancers.

- People undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer may be monitored for high uric acid levels.

Natural Ways to Lower High Uric Acid

- Limit foods rich in purines

You can limit your sources of uric acid. Foods high in purines include some meats, seafood, and vegetables. All of these foods contribute to the production of uric acid when digested.

Avoid or reduce your intake of foods high in purines, such as red meat, organ meats, shellfish, and poultry.

- Get out of the way

Fructose is a natural sugar found in fruits and honey. When the body breaks down fructose, it releases purines and increases uric acid levels. Note that fructose in drinks is absorbed more quickly than sugar in whole foods because drinks do not contain fiber, protein, or other nutrients.

Other sugars added to foods include table sugar and high fructose corn syrup.

- Drink more water

Drinking plenty of fluids helps your kidneys excrete uric acid more quickly. Your kidneys filter about 70% of uric acid in your body. Drinking enough water can help support your kidneys and may reduce your risk of uric acid kidney stones.

- Avoid drinking alcohol

Drinking alcohol can make you more dehydrated. A 2021 study found that it can also cause high uric acid levels.

Alcohol increases the metabolism of nucleotides, another source of purines that can be converted to uric acid. It also affects the rate of uric acid excretion, leading to increased uric acid levels in the blood.

- Drink coffee

A 2016 study found that coffee can help lower serum uric acid levels in two main ways. It competes with the enzyme that breaks down purines in the body, reducing the rate at which uric acid is produced. It increases the rate at which the body excretes uric acid.

Other studies from 2016Trusted Source show there is enough evidence to support the possibility.

- Weight control

Excess body fat can contribute to high uric acid levels. Being overweight can make your kidneys work less efficiently. It can also increase uric acid production and decrease uric acid excretion in your urine.

- Control blood sugar

A 2019 study found that hyperuricemia is associated with the development of diabetes and related complications. People with high blood sugar, such as those with prediabetes or diabetes, are also at higher risk of experiencing the side effects of hyperuricemia.

- Add more fiber to your diet

Eating plenty of fiber can help lower uric acid levels. Fiber can also help balance blood sugar and insulin levels. It tends to increase satiety, helping you stay fuller for longer.

- Enhance vitamin C absorption

A 2021 study found that high vitamin C intake may help reduce uric acid levels.

The recommended daily intake of vitamin C is 75-120 mg for most adults, although the maximum daily limit is 2,000 mg. You can also get more by eating foods rich in vitamin C, especially fruits and vegetables.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/ban-co-dang-bi-axit-uric-cao-ma-khong-biet-20250720210945517.htm