Many drugs can increase or decrease the level of uric acid. In particular, diuretic drugs like thiazide drugs can cause uric acid levels to go up.
Aspirin (and other salicylates) have varying effects on uric acid. At low aspirin levels (as may occur in persons taking aspirin only occasionally), aspirin can increase blood uric acid. On the other hand, in high doses (as may be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis), aspirin actually lowers the concentration of uric acid.
For people who have uric acid kidney stones or gout, foods that are high in purine content should be avoided, including organ meats (like liver and kidneys), sardines and anchovies. Alcohol also should be avoided, because it slows down the removal of uric acid from the body. Fasting, a starvation diet, and strenuous exercise all raise uric acid levels.
* Obesity can be linked to high uric acid levels in the blood. People who are overweight should consult with their doctor to decide on a reasonable weight-loss program. Fasting or severe dieting can actually raise uric acid levels and cause gout to worsen.
* Usually people can eat what they like within limits. People who have kidney stones due to uric acid may need to actually eliminate purine-rich foods from their diet because those foods can raise their uric acid level.
* Consuming coffee and tea is not a problem but alcohol can raise uric acid levels and provoke an episode of gout. Drinking at least 10-12 eight-ounce glasses of non-alcoholic fluids every day is recommended, especially for people with kidney stones, to help flush the uric acid crystals from the body...Foods very high in purines include:
* hearts
* herring
* mussels
* yeast
* smelt
* sardines
* sweetbreads
Foods moderately high in purines include:
* anchovies
* grouse
* mutton
* veal
* bacon
* liver
* salmon
* turkey
* kidneys
* partridge
* trout
* goose
* haddock
* pheasant
* scallops
Recommended Foods To Eat
* Fresh cherries, strawberries, blueberries, and other red-blue berries
* Bananas
* Celery
* Tomatoes
* Vegetables including kale, cabbage, parsley, green-leafy vegetables
* Foods high in bromelain (pineapple)
* Foods high in vitamin C (red cabbage, red bell peppers, tangerines, mandarins, oranges, potatoes)
* Drink fruit juices and purified water (8 glasses of water per day)
* Low-fat dairy products
* Complex carbohydrates (breads, cereals, pasta, rice, as well as aforementioned vegetables and fruits)
* Chocolate, cocoa
* Coffee, tea
* Carbonated beverages
* Essential fatty acids (tuna and salmon, flaxseed, nuts, seeds)
* Tofu, although a legume and made from soybeans, may be a better choice than meat
Foods considered moderately high in purines but which may not raise the risk of gout include: asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms, peas, spinach, whole grain breads and cereals, chicken, duck, ham, turkey, kidney and lima beans. It is important to remember that purines are found in all protein foods. All sources of purines should not be eliminated.
The combination of insulin-insensitivity and insulin over-production typically leads to one of two results:
Either, the pancreas gets worn out and insulin production slows down to abnormally low levels. Result? We develop type 2 diabetes. (About 30 percent of cases)
Or, the insulin-resistant patient doesn't develop diabetes (because the pancreas continues to produce sufficient insulin) but, instead, contracts hyperinsulinism (abnormally high levels of insulin in the blood), which can cause chronic obesity as well as high blood pressure, high levels of triglycerides, low HDL (good) cholesterol, heart disease,
A malfunction of the body's blood sugar control system (insulin system) is frequent in women with PCOS, and researchers believe that these abnormalities may be related to the development of PCOS. It is known that the ovaries of women with PCOS produce excess amounts of male hormone known as androgen. This excessive production of male hormones may be a result of the abnormalities in insulin production.
What treatments are available for polycystic ovarian syndrome?
Treatment of PCOS depends partially on the woman's stage of life. For younger women who desire birth control, the birth control pill, especially those with low "androgenic" (male hormone–like) side effects can cause regular periods and prevent the risk of uterine cancer.Glucophage is a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. This drug affects the action of insulin and is useful in reducing the symptoms of PCOS.
Normal Results
Male: 12-300 ng/mL
Female: 12-150 ng/mL
Note: ng/ml = nanograms per milliliter
The lower the ferritin level, even within the "normal" range, the more likely it is that the patient does not have enough iron.
Normal Results
Normal values are from 0.4 to 4.0 mIU/L for those with no symptoms of an under- or over-active thyroid.
If you are being treated for a thyroid disorder, your TSH should be between 0.5 and 2.0 mIU/L. This means that you are being treated appropriately.
Some people with a TSH value over 2.0 mIU/L, who have no signs or symptoms suggestive of an under-active thyroid, may develop hypothyroidism sometime in the future. Anyone with a TSH above 2.0 mIU/L, therefore, should be followed very closely by a doctor.
Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories.