Gout Must Reads
Think you might have Gout? Take the Next Step »Gout is a form of arthritis characterized by inflamed, painful joints and is caused by the formation of crystal deposits at the joints.
This type of arthritis can make your joints very painful and swollen. While it usually strikes the big toe, it can affect other joints as well, such as your ankle or knee.
Gout has been referred to as "the disease of kings and the king of diseases." It affects more men than women and is often associated with obesity, hypertension (high blood pressure), hyperlipidemia (high levels of lipids in the blood), and diabetes.
Cause
The condition is caused by monosodium urate crystal deposits in the joints, which are the result of excess uric acid in the body. The excess uric acid may be caused by an increase in production by the body, poor elimination of the uric acid by the kidneys, or increased intake of certain foods that metabolize into uric acid in the body.
Foods to Avoid
Foods that are high in purines (the component of the food that metabolizes into uric acid) include certain meats, seafood, dried beans, and dried peas. Alcoholic beverages may also increase levels of uric acid in the body. Gout attacks may be triggered by consumption of large quantities of alcohol, consumption of large quantities of protein-rich foods, fatigue, emotional stress, minor surgery, or illness.
Gout Symptoms
Gout is characterized by sudden, recurrent attacks that often occur without warning. Severe, chronic gout may lead to deformity. The symptoms of gout may resemble other medical conditions or problems, so it's important to get an accurate diagnosis quickly.
- Severe, sudden, sharp pain attacks in one or more joints, often at night time (most often the joint in the big toe)
- Pain attacks lasting days to weeks
- Swollen joint(s), especially in the foot, toes and ankles
- Red or purplish, tight, shiny skin over joint
- Fever
- Chills
- General feeling of illness
- Rapid heartbeat
- Hard lumps of urate crystal deposits under the skin (called tophi)
- Warmth and swelling in joint area
Diagnosis
In addition to a complete medical history and a physical examination, a diagnosis of gout may be confirmed with the examination of a fluid sample for the presence of urate crystals.
Treatment and Lifestyle Changes
Limiting alcohol intake and drinking plenty of water can reduce the risk for a gout attack. Avoiding foods high in purine also helps. These foods include liver, anchovies, red meat, shellfish, and gravy.
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