Question

What is Uric Acid What Health Problems Can It Cause?

Answer 1

What is uric acid?Uric acid is a compound that gets produced when food breaks down. It is normally filtered by the kidneys and leaves the body through the urine. A small amount of uric acid may get excreted in the stool.What happens when there is too much uric acid in the body?Health problems can result if a person has too much uric acid in his body. One of the most common medical conditions associated with high levels of uric acid is gout. Gout occurs when uric acid builds up and forms solid crystals inside of the joints. Intense joint pain and inflammation are the primary symptoms associated with gout. Excessive uric acid can also cause kidney stones to form. In rare cases, a high levels of uric acid have lead to kidney failure.What happens when a person has too little uric acid in his body?A low level of uric acid is also a cause for concern. It may indicate zinc or iron deficiency. Low uric acid levels are also associated with multiple sclerosis. Women who take Birth Control pills or have very high estrogen levels are at an increased risk for developing this problem.How do doctors check uric acid levels?Checking a person's uric acid levels is relatively simple. All a physician has to do is obtain a sample of blood or urine from the patient. A normal uric acid level ranges from 3.0 to 7.0 mg/dl.How do doctors treat high or low uric acid levels?Doctors usually prescribe a medication such as fexobuxstat, which helps reduce the amount of uric acid that the body produces. This medication also helps the body excrete more uric acid. People who have low uric acid levels are advised to get more zinc in their or take a supplement.