Uric Acid Crystals - The Result Of Over Indulgance!
More than likely you have heard of gout, and you are probably aware of how uncomfortable it can be too. However, you may not have heard about uric acid crystals, which actually have quite a bit to do with gout. In order to better understand the problem, you need to understand uric acid, and what happens when there is too much of it in your blood stream.
What are Uric Acid Crystals?
It is quite normal to have uric acid in your blood stream; however, too much of it can be a bad thing. While the levels of uric acid are at normal, or even slightly high, in your blood, there is no problem, but when it gets too high the uric acid turns from a solution into a crystal. The crystal is basically a needle like, solid form of uric acid.
When these crystals develop, they usually end up lodging themselves around a joint. This causes the skin to get stretched and the area to become red and inflamed. Usually it also causes quite a bit of pain in the affected area as well. More than likely, the first place you will notice these crystal deposits is in the big toe, feet, and ankles. What Causes Them? You may be wondering what exactly causes these crystals of uric acid to develop. Well, when too much uric acid is in the blood, the body has to do something with the extra uric acid, so it turns some of it into a crystal form. Usually the kidneys help your body get rid of the extra uric acid, but when it does not, these crystals can develop. While some of the uric acid in the body is produced by the body, about 1/3 of it comes into the body from food that contains purines. The purines in this food is then converted into uric acid, so it is important that you are careful in what you eat. While men usually have more uric acid in their bodies than women, both men and women have more and more of this acid in their blood as they get older. How to Get Rid of Them So, what can you do to get rid of these uric acid crystals that cause so much pain and discomfort? Well, more than likely you will first need to see your doctor. Most doctors will start you out with an NSAID (anti-inflammatory drug), such as Naprosyn or Indocin. In the event that these drugs do not help take care of the problem, then steroids, such as prednisone may be used. There are also some drugs, such as Zyloprim, which can reduce the rate in which the body produces uric acid, which can also be of help as well. The drug Benemid may also be used to increase the amount of uric acid you get rid of in your urine, to prevent uric acid crystals from forming. The bottom line is that controlling your weight, avoiding too much alcohol, and even watching the food you eat can also help you prevent these crystals from forming as well and keeping you in great health. " Find Out Natural Methods For Dramatically Reducing and Even Eliminating Painful Gout Flare-Ups..."
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