What does it mean if uric acid levels are high in a blood test, and what should be done?
Oct 09, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Tiesheng
Introduction
In general, elevated uric acid levels in blood tests may be related to factors such as diet, intense physical activity, gout, diabetes, and kidney failure. Patients are advised to follow medical instructions for symptomatic treatment. Additionally, high uric acid levels may also be associated with conditions such as lymphoma and multiple myeloma. If patients experience any discomfort or symptoms, they should seek timely medical attention at a hospital to avoid delaying diagnosis and treatment.
In general, high uric acid levels detected in blood tests may be related to dietary factors, intense physical exercise, gout, diabetes, renal failure, and other conditions. Patients are advised to follow medical advice for symptomatic treatment. Specific analyses are as follows:
1. Dietary factors
If a patient frequently consumes foods high in purines in daily life—such as sugary or fructose-containing beverages, animal offal, and alcoholic drinks including yellow rice wine, beer, and white spirits—these purine-rich substances can lead to elevated uric acid levels during blood testing. It is recommended that patients regulate their diet by reducing intake of high-purine foods and increasing consumption of fruits such as cherries, strawberries, pineapples, and watermelons.
2. Intense physical exercise
If a patient engages in significant physical activity prior to blood collection, the body's endogenous production of uric acid increases while the kidney’s ability to excrete uric acid decreases, resulting in insufficient elimination of uric acid from the body and consequently elevated blood uric acid levels. This is a normal physiological phenomenon that typically resolves spontaneously without special intervention.
3. Gout
Gout is associated with impaired uric acid excretion and overproduction of uric acid in the body. Patients with gout may present with high uric acid levels upon blood testing. Under medical guidance, patients may use medications such as colchicine tablets or celecoxib capsules for treatment.
4. Diabetes
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder. Due to impaired bodily functions, many substances cannot be properly metabolized and filtered, entering the renal tubules directly, which may lead to increased uric acid levels. Under a doctor's supervision, patients may take medications such as metformin hydrochloride tablets or glimepiride capsules for management.
5. Renal failure
In patients with renal failure, impaired kidney filtration function may prevent timely excretion of excess uric acid from the body, leading to increased serum uric acid levels. Under medical guidance, patients may use medications such as furosemide tablets or Niaoduqing granules for treatment.
Besides the above, elevated uric acid may also be associated with conditions such as lymphoma or multiple myeloma. If patients experience any discomfort, they should seek timely medical evaluation at a hospital to avoid delays in diagnosis and treatment.
