What Does Uric Acid Mean In A Blood Test?

When you go for a blood test, your doctor is looking at more than just your cholesterol levels. He or she is also checking to see how much uric acid is in your blood.

Uric acid can be a sign of several health conditions, so it’s important to know what the number means.

In this blog post, we’ll talk about what uric acid is and why it’s important to keep it under control. We’ll also discuss some of the health conditions that can be caused by high levels of uric acid.

So, if you’re wondering what that number on your lab report means, keep reading!

What Does Uric Acid In A Blood Test Mean?

Uric acid, also known as “Serum Urate”, is a chemical that’s normally found in the blood. It provides important functions, including helping to break down genetic material and clearing out cells that are no longer useful to the body.

However, When there’s too much of the compound in your blood, it can start to cause health problems. High levels of uric acid can lead to:

• Joint and back pain  
• Increase Gout Risk
• Heart disease         
• High levels of uric acid could also signal kidney problems like kidney stones or chronic kidney disease.

What Is The Normal Uric Acid Level?

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) mention that generally, men should have between 3.4-7.0 milligrams/deciliter (mg/dL) of blood in their bodies at any one time. Women, meanwhile, should have between 2.4-6.0 mg/dL.

If you’re worried about your levels of uric acid, it’s important that you talk to your doctor right away. He or she will be able to offer medical treatment or advice on how to bring down the number to a safe range.

What Causes High Uric Acid Levels?

There are several things that can cause uric acid to build up in your blood. The NIH points out that some of the more common causes include:

• Eating too much protein          
• Getting dehydrated               
• Not getting enough Vitamin C and folate          
• Drinking alcohol heavily               
• Consuming too many foods high in fructose              
• Consuming lots of salty food or eating too much sodium          

In some cases, though, low levels of uric acid can cause health problems. That’s why it’s important to let your doctor know if you’re going to have a blood test.    He or she can check to make sure you don’t have low uric acid levels before the test is administered.

What Are Some Tips For Lowering High Uric Acid levels?

It’s important that you let your doctor know if your uric acid levels are too high (or too low), as this can cause health problems down the line. Your doctor may offer you one or more of the following tips to reduce your uric acid levels:

• Cease smoking               
• Decrease alcohol consumption               
• Eat a low-purine diet                   
• Exercise regularly               
• Drink plenty of water                     
• Take medication            
• In most cases, changing your habits and lifestyle will help you bring your uric acid level under control. Tackling the problem early will help you avoid more serious health problems down the line.

Gout And High Uric Acid

Gout is a common type of arthritis. It causes sudden attacks of pain, tenderness, and stiffness in the joints, particularly those of the big toe and knee.

Gout can develop when there is too much uric acid in the body or when the uric acid does not dissolve properly. Uric acid dissolves in blood plasma, but some people produce too much uric acid or their kidneys do not remove enough of it from the blood.

Gout has many known triggers that cause flares to happen, but people who have gout may want to avoid these triggers in their daily lives even when they are not having a flare.

Check out this article about foods to avoid if you have gout for more information.