Uric acid is a naturally occuring substance in the human body. Uric acid is released as a result of the metabolic activities in the body. It is a byproduct that gets filtered from blood passing through the kidneys. Uric acid levels being too high in the body causes many problems and most importantly Gout – which is a complex arthritis based disorder. Gout affects many people in the world, especially men in their middle ages. Gout is often caused as a result of high uric acid levels. It is detected using a uric acid test which is usually ordered by a doctor when they see the signs and symptoms of high uric acid level in patients. It is one of the many common disorders that patients develop worldwide and can be extremely painful and hard to manage.

Uric Acid Levels in Human Body

Uric Acid is one of the many byproducts that is released in the body after metabolizing the food that we consume. Uric acid is generally filtered out and flushed out of the body by the kidneys. High level of uric acids being detected in the bloodstream or urine generally means two things:

• Uric acid more than the level that can be filtered is being produced in the body

• The kidneys are unable to process the level of uric acid present in the body

Either way, the patient must reduce the level of uric acid either through medication or by correction of diet. Uric acid can be detected using a normal uric acid test which is either done intravenously or via urine samples. Uric acid test prices are not expensive and cost just like a regular blood sugar test. Uric acid is produced when a compound called Purines is broken down during digestion. Purines are naturally present in the digestive system but can pile up when a patient eats too much red meat, shellfish, high fat fish or drinks with high fructose content in it.

When there is a high level of uric acid or urea crystals in the body, they can form small stone or crystal-like structures and sediment around the joints of the bones. These sediments can become excessively painful and cause below signs and symptoms:

• Pain

• Swelling

• Redness

• Heat around the inflamed joint

• Tenderness

These are some of the symptoms when a person has high uric acid in the body that starts to settle around the joints. This condition is classified as Gout – which is an arthritic disorder and includes the presence of urea crystals and Tophi’s under the skin’s layer due to high levels of uric acid in the body. These crystals can be extremely painful and cause severe tenderness of the joints especially around the giant toe and during the night. These pains can come and go routinely like a wave from time to time.

Range for Uric Acid Levels in Body

Women generally have less uric acid than men up untill menopause when they become slightly equal to men’s range. For women the normal range is below 6mg/dL for the level of uric acid in the body and for men, the levels must be lower than 7mg/dL. Anything beyond this point can be classified as either borderline uric acid inflation in the body or could be related to a disease such as gout, kidney stone or other diabetic kidneys.