Take Charge of Your Health - Gout: The Disease of Kings!
Be temperate in wine, in eating, girls and sloth;
Or the Gout will seize you and plague you both.
-Benjamin Franklin
Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis that can cause sudden and very intense pain, commonly in one joint at a time and typically in a joint of the foot, ankle or knee. The large toe is the joint most often affected. Pain is most severe in the first four to twelve hours.
The condition is caused by high levels of uric acids in the body that lead to deposits of uric acid crystals in the joints. Normally, uric acid dissolves in the blood and passes through the kidneys into urine but sometimes either the body produces too much uric acid or the kidneys do not excrete enough uric acid. When the uric acid builds up, it forms sharp crystals in the joint which can cause excruciating pain, super sensitivity, redness, warmth, inflammation and swelling. These symptoms can extend from the big toe to the foot, or in some cases, all the way to the knee. The pain can be so severe that some gout sufferers report that they cannot even tolerate the weight of a sheet over the affected area.
The buildup of excess uric acid can also affect the urinary tract where it can cause the formation of kidney stones.
Gout is most common in people over the age of 30, and is more common in men than women. If family members have gout, their relatives are more likely to get the condition. Gout is often associated with people who are overweight, frequently drink alcohol or drinks with fructose, and have diets rich in red meat, internal organs (such as liver) and shellfish. Certain medical conditions also increase the risk of gout, including high blood pressure, diabetes and heart and kidney diseases. Dehydration and certain medications are also associated with gout attacks.
For most people who have had gout, it typically appears once or twice, every year or two, and lasts about one week. However, if untreated, attacks can last longer and become more frequent over time.
The test to diagnose gout is typically a joint fluid test. The doctor uses a needle to draw fluid from the affected joint area and urate crystals can be detected under a microscope. Blood tests can also help measure the uric acid and creatinine in the blood.
Relieving gout pain and swelling often requires prescribed drugs, cold compresses and lots of rest and patience to allow your body to recover. It is important to stay hydrated to dilute the uric acid and flush it out of the body.
A medication such as colchicine can help treat the gout attack and also lower the uric acid to avoid future attacks. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or steroids can also be prescribed. Other alternatives to colchicine, such as allopurinol or febuxostat, can also help lower uric acid in the blood. In terms of alternative medicine, drinking coffee, eating cherries or taking Vitamin C have been shown to reduce uric acid levels.
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