Some people say that gout and hyperuricemia are just like fraternal twins. It is almost a given fact that if you have gout, you are most likely to suffer or maybe suffering from hyperuricemia too, or the other way around. However, they are in the actual fact, not just twins. They are actually triplets, or more. However, the problem is that these siblings of conditions may have seemingly distinct traits, therefore we tend to fail in recognizing that they are related. In this article, you will get to know the complications of the hyperuricemia. So, if you want to know these, then give this article a read.
Hyperuricemia: What is this condition?
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Hyperuricemia is a condition that is characterized by the excessive amount of uric acid that is located in our blood. The uric acid goes into the liver, then enters the bloodstream. Utmost of which are being removed or excreted from the body through urination. Or it may pass into the intestines to be able to regulate its normal levels.
The normal level of the uric acid is about 3.4 to 7.0 mg/DL for a male and 2.4 to 6.0 mg/dL for a female. The normal values may vary from a laboratory to another.
Furthermore, another important component to the levels of blood uric acid are the purines. Moreover, the purines are compounds that contain nitrogen that is made exclusively in the body cells. They may also come outside of the body, from the foods that contain the said substance. The increased in the levels of the uric acid in the excess amount of purines may accrue into the tissues, and the form crystals. As a result, this will cause high levels of uric acid, especially into the blood.
The formation of the uric acid may happen when the blood’s level of uric acid increases to beyond 7 mg/dL, complications like kidney stones, gout, and more may occur.
Complications of Hyperuricemia
The condition may usually come with several kidney and liver complications. This is since both of them are directly in connection with the uric acid excretion. Furthermore, the prolonged hyperuricemia may likely cause kidney stones or nephrolithiasis, kidney failure, and nephropathy.
Furthermore, when the uric acid reacts with the oxalates, the uric acid kidney stones may form in the liver. In various cases, the stone may be flushed out even without the knowledge of the sufferer. Conversely, there are also some cases wherein it causes austere pain. This is because it moves in the urinary tract. In some worst cases, the tubules are being blocked by the microscopic urate crystals that may cause kidney failure in a long period of time.
Complications Of Hyperuricemia That Some Fails To Anticipate
One unpleasant surprise is that the condition may cause diabetes, some degenerative conditions, cardiovascular illnesses, hypertension, and even cancer. You may think that this is just a hoax or a joke, but this is true by all means. An excessive amount of uric acid may cause too much blood sugar. And the excessive amount of blood sugar and rebellious cells may cause cancer. In fact, it can cause every illness that you can think of.
What can you do about Hyperuricemia?
Here are some things that you may do if you or your loved ones experience hyperuricemia:
- Follow the instruction of your healthcare provider concerning the lowering of the blood’s level of uric acid and curing the condition itself. If the blood levels get elevated sternly, there are various prescription drugs that may help in lowering the uric acid level to the safe range.
- Tell your doctor if you do have a history of heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, or even diabetes.
- Makes sure that you tell your doctor if you are taking any medications.
If your level of blood uric acid is elevated and you are at risk of gout, then try eating a diet that’s low in purine.
Here are some foods high in purine:
- Asparagus, mushrooms, cauliflower, oatmeal, lentils, peas, beans, and spinach.
- Yeast and yeast cuttings
- Organ meat, gravy, meat extracts
On the other hand, here are some foods low in purine:
- Nuts, fruits, peanut butter
- Cream soups that has no meat stock
- Green vegetables, tomatoes, lettuce
- Eggs, milk and milk products
- Cakes, tapioca, flour, pasta, bread, refined cereals