Uric Acid definition, Causes, and Effects

What is Uric acid ? Uric acid is a heterocyclic compound of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen with the formula C5H4N4O3. It forms ions and salts known as urates and acid urates such as ammonium acid urate. Uric acid is created when the body breaks down purine nucleotides. And as you know Uric Acid is a form of arthritis, the most painful one.

Causes,

Uric Acid is caused by an accumulation of sodium urate crystals in the joints. The crystals form when the amount of uric acid in the body reaches an abnormally high level.

Everyone has uric acid, which is naturally present in small amounts. It’s a waste product that results from the body’s normal process of cells dying and releasing purines. It also accumulates from the body absorbing purines contained in some foods.

Normally, uric acid is dissolved in the blood and passes through the kidneys into the urine. But, when more uric acid is produced than the kidneys can eliminate, the elevated level is known as hyperuricemia (Hyperuricemia is a serum acid level above 6.8 mg/dL).

After years of sustained hyperuricemia, the body may store excess uric acid up to several times higher than the normal level. The uric acid may crystallize in joints and some other tissues. When the crystals accumulate in the joints they can set the stage for a painful attack of gout.

Effects,

The most common effect of uric acid is a kidney stones. Even though a gout attack will go away and kidney stones can be removed there are more serious effects of high uric acid. For example: kidney failure, liver disease and heart failure may also develop. Now these are extreme, but very well could happen with elevated uric acid levels for an extended time period.