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Uric Acid & Heart Disease

According to an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a chemical called uric acid that is found within our bodies can cause heart problems. There have been studies that have shown uric acid being directly related to heart disease. Too much of it has proven to be quite harmful and some people have developed various conditions, including gout and other heart problems. All races and sexes have been found to develop problems from high uric acid levels.

  1. Uric Acid

    • About 6,000 people were studied by doctors over a course of 20 years. Out of the bunch, 1,500 of them died from heart problems. When the deceased's uric acid levels were studied by researchers, they found that they weren't high enough to cause gout, but were still able to lead to heart disease and, eventually, death.

    Who Is At Risk?

    • Although both sexes and all races have been found to have heart troubles caused by uric acid, African Americans and women are most commonly found with the heart issues related to uric acid.

    What is Uric Acid?

    • Uric acid is a chemical that the body produces when it breaks down purines (substances within the body), which can be found in various foods (liver, anchovies, mackerel, peas and dried beans) and drinks (beer and wine). Most of the time, uric acid will dissolve within the blood and go through the kidneys, where it is then expelled as urine. When the body creates too much uric acid or isn't able to rid the body of it quick enough, the body gets sick.

    Testing

    • Testing for uric acid levels is done with a sample of blood that is withdrawn from a vein located inside the elbow or on the back of the hand. For infants and children, a lancet (sharp tool) is used to prick the skin to make it bleed. The blood is then placed into a pipette or onto a test strip. It is then sent to the lab for testing.

    What Changes Uric Acid Levels?

    • Some of the drugs that are known to increase the uric acid levels in the body include alcohol, diuretics, levodopa, nicotinic acid, aspirin, ascorbic acid and caffeine. Drugs that are known to decrease uric acid levels include estrogen, glucose, warfarin and mannitol.

    Causes

    • Normal uric acid results are between 3.0 and 7.0 mg/dL. Results that are above normal levels can be caused by acidosis, alcoholism, diabetes, lead poisoning, leukemia, gout, renal failure, purine-rich diets, excessive exercise, chemotherapy side effects and toxemia of pregnancy. Results that show lower than normal uric acid levels can be caused by Wilson's disease, Fanconi syndrome and a low purine diet.

    Prevention

    • Avoid large consumption of meats, sugar and starches because they are linked to elevation of uric acid. Losing weight can also help to reduce levels of uric acid, but too much exercise can lead to high levels of uric acid. Being overweight has been found to be linked to uric acid. A daily low-dose aspirin can help to reduce the creation of uric acid and is known to reduce the chances of heart disease as well.

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