All About Gout & How to Fight Back... The Facts Put Simply

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GOUT

The Facts Put Simply.

Learn About Gout and Equip Yourself to Fight Back!

Generally...
Gout is an ancient disease. It is a chronic type of inflammatory arthritis that causes immediate attacks of pain, tenderness, redness, warmth and swelling in some joints.
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Subject matter Quick Links for this page…
1) Gout facts
2) Who is at risk to get Gout?
3) Causes of Gout
4) Symptoms of Gout
5) What can you do to prevent Gout?
6) What can you do to combat Gout?
7) Additional Authoritative Gout resources

Gout Facts

• Usually, the joints in the big toe are affected, but gout can also affect the instep, ankles, heels, knees, wrists, fingers and elbows.
• Was once believed to be the result of gluttony
• Is known to affect people from all walks of life
• Often the disease is inherited
• Less than one in ten women will develop gout
• About 500,000 people have gout in the United States
• Gout accounts for about 5 percent of all cases of arthritis
• May well be the most painful form of Arthritis

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Who is at risk to get Gout?

• The highest risk group is men between the ages of 30 and 60
• People with Gout in their family tree are at risk to inherit it

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Causes of Gout

Gout is caused when there is over production of uric acid in the body. Genetics can play a role in who develops gout. It can also occur as a complication of other conditions. Some people inherit the inability to process uric acid and lose it in the urine. High blood levels of uric acid in turn causes sodium monourate crystals to collect in the joint fluid and joint coverings leading to gout, a painful stiff swollen joint.

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Symptoms of Gout

• Gout, it is said by some experts, is one of the most painful of all types of arthritis. Incidents of gout often develop very quickly and sometimes the first incident will be at night. These painful incidents of gout include swelling in the joints that lasts for about a week without treatment. The skin may be red and shiny around the affected joints.
• Lumps (tophi) may be found under the skin around the elbows, heels or ears. The uric acid crystals cause these lumps and can also cause kidney stones to develop.
• A few people will only experience one gout attack. However, for most people the gout attacks will keep coming back every few months and will be worse in intensity. If the disease is left untreated, it may result in crippling damage to the joints.
• Gout is easily identified through a physical examination and diagnostic tests. Your doctor will take a sample of the joint fluid and look for the presence of uric acid crystals. He or she may also take a blood test to measure the amount of uric acid in your body.

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What can you do to prevent Gout?

As the root causes of Gout are unknown, and as the belief is that it is likely a hereditary disposition, prevention focuses on preventing bouts of Gout by avoiding the following triggers:
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Eating certain kinds of food rich in purines such as seafood, beans, sweetbreads, gravies and anchovies
• Surgery
• Stress
• Crash diets
• Sudden, severe illness
• Chemotherapy
• Joint injury
• High blood pressure
• Excessive exercise

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What can you do to combat Gout?

• Through the use of certain kinds of medications, a proper diet and exercise, gout sufferers will be able to successfully treat their condition.
• Uric acid levels in the body can be controlled through medications, thus reducing the number of gout attacks. Doctors will usually prescribe a medication called allopurinol that stops the over production of uric acid. If the kidneys are not excreting enough uric acid, your doctor may prescribe a different kind of medication such as probenecid or sulfinpyrazone.
• Doctors have been using a drug called colchicine for centuries to treat gout attacks. Colchicine relieves pain while limiting the inflammation of the joint. Often the drug provides relief quickly but there are some side effects such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
• Nonsalicylate NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen may be used for pain relief. Aspirin should not be used because it can actually make symptoms of gout worse.
• Talk to your doctor or nutritionist about starting a proper diet. There are certain foods that you should stay away from and be sure to limit your alcohol intake as wine and beer have been shown to make symptoms worse.
• A combination of exercise, rest and relaxation is important in achieving an optimum level of health and wellness. Your doctor or physical therapist will help you create an exercise plan such as swimming or walking that will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

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Additional Authoritative Gout resources:

• For more detailed information related to Gout, Gouty Arthritis please visit www.GoutPal.com

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