What Is Uric Acid?
Uric acid is naturally produced by the body as a result of the breakdown of purines as part of the body’s normal ongoing daily wear, tear and repair process. Purines are substances found in all of the body’s cells, and in many foods. This is a normal and healthy process. Uric acid from this process is generally cleared by the kidneys. Imagine the kidneys as being like a sieve which filters all the bad stuff from the body, keeping the good stuff in. With gout the kidneys become less efficient at filtering (the holes in the sieve become smaller) so more uric acid is retained in the body Viagra Australia Pharmacy. This is what happens when you drink alcohol and is why many heavy drinkers get gout. When the uric acid reaches a certain level it can then escape into the bloodstream and enter the joints, causing pain.
Some people can just produce too much uric acid (one reason why some men who don’t drink alcohol can still get gout). Uric acid can also be found in our diets, particularly in purine-rich foods like red meat (especially offal), duck, seafood (especially sardines and anchovies), gravy, kidney beans, peas and lentils. Other culprits can include shellfish, spinach, asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms, beer and other forms of alcohol.
Binge drinking and extreme fasting can also cause uric acid levels to rise, as can certain medications, such as thiazide diuretics and niacin (Vitamin B3), which is often taken to boost HDL (good) cholesterol. Sometimes there are genetic factors involved that cause the uric acid level to be too high.
It is the build-up of high uric acid over a long period of time that tends to cause gout. The higher the uric acid level the higher the chance of developing gout. When uric acid leaks out of the blood it enters the joints, most commonly the big toe. Occasionally it can affect other joints, including the hands. The attack usually comes on suddenly, causing pain, and within a few hours the affected joint can become red, hot, swollen and painful.
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Diagnosis of Cout
The diagnosis of gout is often straightforward. Certainly any man who has suffered recurring attacks of gout will know immediately when they have been struck down by it. However, sometimes other forms of arthritis or infection can mimic gout. A high uric acid level supports the diagnosis of gout, but it is not as black and white as it seems: some people can have a high uric acid level for many years without developing gout. If the diagnosis is uncertain the doctor may remove a small amount of fluid from the joint; the presence of uric acid crystals in the joint fluid confirms the diagnosis beyond doubt.