Hyperuricemia: Simple, Practical Ways to Spot It and Lower Uric Acid

High uric acid—called hyperuricemia—often doesn’t cause pain until it triggers gout or kidney stones. That makes it easy to ignore. This page gives clear, useful steps you can use right away: how to recognize it, what raises uric acid, and realistic things you can do to bring levels down.

What causes high uric acid?

Uric acid comes from breaking down purines (parts of many foods and your own cells). Levels rise when your body either makes too much or can’t get rid of enough. Common reasons include:

• Diet high in purines: red meat, organ meats, shellfish, and sugary drinks with fructose.
• Alcohol, especially beer and spirits.
• Being overweight or sudden weight gain.
• Reduced kidney function — kidneys clear uric acid.
• Some medicines, like thiazide diuretics and low-dose aspirin.
• Genetics and certain health problems (high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome).

Blood tests measure serum uric acid. Levels above about 6.8 mg/dL are where crystals can form; many doctors treat people with gout to below 6 mg/dL, and below 5 mg/dL if attacks are frequent.

How to lower uric acid: practical steps

Small, steady changes work better than extreme diets. Try these steps that most people can follow:

• Cut back on high-purine foods. Replace some red meat with beans or poultry and choose low-purine veggies.
• Limit alcohol, especially beer. Even a few drinks a week can raise uric acid for some people.
• Drop sugary drinks and juices with added fructose — water or sparkling water is a better swap.
• Lose weight gradually if you’re overweight. Fast weight loss can temporarily raise uric acid.
• Stay hydrated. Aim for enough water so urine is pale; good hydration helps kidneys flush uric acid.
• Consider cherries or cherry juice — some people find fewer gout flares after adding them, though effects vary.
• Review medicines with your doctor. Alternatives exist for drugs that raise uric acid.

If lifestyle changes aren’t enough, doctors can prescribe medicines that lower uric acid—common ones are allopurinol and febuxostat, which reduce production, or probenecid, which helps the kidneys remove more uric acid. Severe, resistant cases may need stronger options under a specialist’s care.

See a doctor if you have sudden, very painful joint swelling (classic gout), frequent attacks, or kidney stone symptoms. Ask for a serum uric acid test and a clear treatment plan with target levels and follow-up checks. Managing hyperuricemia is usually a mix of steady lifestyle habits and the right medication when needed.