Uric Acid and Kidney Disease

Thirteen percent of the population has kidney disease, and the numbers are rising fast. The kidneys filter out waste inside our body, among them uric acid. When these filters do not function properly, a person can have a kidney disease. They may become blocked or they may become weak. When protein and blood leak into the urine, this indicates you have the disease.
Gout is caused by a build up of uric acid in the joints. This acid is carried there via the blood stream, so it stands to reason that there will be a connection of some sort between gout and kidney disease. However, it’s not much talked about.
The damage from not treating gout properly is not just limited to the joints, however. It can also cause great harm to the kidneys. The crystals from the excess uric acid can also develop in the urinary tract and lead to kidney stones. Sufferers of gout have also been found to have a higher likelihood of developing kidney disease. However, other studies have shown that many patients with kidney disease actually had the kidney disease first, and the kidney disease then led to the formation of gout. Regardless, gout and kidney disease go hand-in-hand.
Uric acid crystals can build up in the kidneys and block the tiny filters in the kidneys. If gout can be kept under control via medication and diet, then kidney disease associated with gout is less likely. However, if the gout is not controlled, kidney disease can follow.
Can kidney disease cause gout? The answer is yes, because the kidneys are not filtering properly. When that happens, it builds up in the bloodstream and is carried to the joints. It is then dropped off, causing flare ups.
One way to prevent these diseases is to watch your diet carefully and make sure you visit your doctor. Have your blood and urine tested so that doctors can give you proper prescription.
The diet is remarkably similar. Purines increase the acid content and excess protein can’t be filtered properly. Sodium and some minerals must be watched carefully. If the kidneys are all right, maintaining adequate hydration is important.


http://uricacidkidneystones.org/