5 symptoms of high uric acid that often go unnoticed

High uric acid, or hyperuricemia, has in the last few years become quite common, wherein there is a build up of uric acid in the blood. Usually, the condition does not cause many symptoms initially, but if left untreated, it can affect your kidneys. Here's how...

High uric acid can cause tiny crystals to form in your joints, leading to inflammation. Intially, this might feel like just mild joint discomfort, stiffness, or slight swelling-often in the big toe or other joints. These symptoms are usually mild to be ignored, but can quickly develop into gout, causing severe pain and joint damage.

High uric acid affects kidneys, causing you to take more washroom breaks. While this can also be the result of drinking more water, you may also look out for a strange smell, or even blood in your urine. This is a sign that uric acid is forming crystals in your kidney, leading to kidney stones.

Pain in your lower back or side can be a sign of uric acid-related kidney problems. (however, it is not the only marker) This mild pain may be the result of kidney stones or inflammation caused by uric acid crystals. This is a fairly common symptom, and is usually ignored, but pay attention if it accompanies other symptoms.

High uric acid can contribute to poor kidney function, which in turn affects your body’s ability to remove waste efficiently. This can cause fatigue, weakness, and a general feeling of being unwell. These vague symptoms are easy to attribute to stress or other causes, but they may signal that your kidneys are struggling due to uric acid buildup.

Sometimes, high uric acid causes shiny, red, or discolored skin near affected joints. This happens because of inflammation from uric acid crystals. These skin changes can be subtle and painless at first, so they often go unnoticed until the condition worsens.

Your kidneys play a vital role in filtering uric acid from your blood and removing it through urine. When uric acid levels become too high, crystals can form not only in joints but also in the kidneys. These crystals cause inflammation and damage kidney tissues, reducing their ability to function properly. Over time, this can lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD) or kidney stones, which cause pain and may require medical treatment.