Uric acid is a waste product your body clears through the kidneys. When levels stay high (hyperuricaemia), crystals can settle in a joint and trigger gout — a sudden, intensely painful attack — or, over time, contribute to kidney stones.
Many people have raised uric acid for years with no symptoms at all, which is exactly why it gets missed. The aim is not to chase a number blindly, but to decide who genuinely needs treatment and to manage it alongside blood pressure, sugar and weight.
Gout often announces itself overnight — these are the typical signs.
Often the base of the big toe, frequently starting at night and peaking within hours.
The joint looks inflamed and is exquisitely tender, even to a bedsheet.
Episodes that come and go, often becoming more frequent over months or years.
Long-standing high levels can form firm deposits (tophi) around joints.
Loin pain or blood in the urine can point to uric-acid stones.
Attacks after rich food, alcohol, dehydration or certain medicines.
It is usually a mix of diet, body weight and how well the kidneys clear urate.
Red and organ meats, certain seafood, and high-fructose / sugary drinks push levels up.
Beer and spirits in particular raise uric acid and trigger flares.
Excess weight, high sugar and high triglycerides commonly travel with raised urate.
Some kidney conditions and water pills (diuretics) reduce how much urate is removed.
Low fluid intake concentrates uric acid and can precipitate an attack.
A genuine genetic tendency runs in some families.
Most flares settle, but some situations need urgent attention.
Diagnosis is rarely just one blood test. The point is to confirm the picture and check what high uric acid is doing to the rest of your health.
Treatment has two parts: settling an acute attack, and deciding whether you need ongoing urate-lowering treatment to prevent future ones. Not everyone with a high number needs lifelong tablets — but those with recurring attacks, tophi, stones or very high levels usually benefit.
“Dr. Manuj Sondhi is extremely knowledgeable, patient and professional. He took the time to listen carefully to every concern and explained the treatment clearly — the whole experience was very reassuring.”
“The tests advised were genuinely useful and nothing unnecessary was prescribed. Dr. Manuj is very experienced and explains everything in detail.”