By: Richard Bleuze
Gout is an inflammatory joint disease and a form of arthritis, not some mysterious illness of the rich and powerful.
Gout, which occurs in about five percent of people with arthritis, results from the buildup of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is the result of the breakdown of waste substances, called purines, in the body. Usually it is dissolved in the blood, processed by the kidneys, and passed out of the body in the urine. However, in some people there is an excess amount of uric acid, too much for the kidneys to eliminate quickly. When there is too much uric acid in the blood, it crystallizes and collects in the joint spaces, causing gout.
A gout attack usually lasts about a week. Usually, the most common area under siege is the big toe. In fact, 75 percent of people with gout will be affected in the big toe at some time. Besides the big toe, gout may also develop in the ankles, heels, knees, wrists, fingers, and elbows.
Who Gets Gout?
Though anyone can get gout, it is usually considered a man's disease. Women have the good fortune of being more efficient in the way they excrete uric acid. And children rarely get it.
Other risk factors include:
- Middle age. Men in their 40s and 50s are at greatest risk.
- Family history of gout. Up to 18 percent of all people with gout have family members with gout.
- Overweight. Excessive eating steps up the production of uric acid.
- Eating too many foods with purines, such as organ meats (liver, kidney, brains, sweetbreads), sardines, anchovies, meat extracts, dried peas, lentils, and legumes.
- An enzyme defect that prevents the breakdown of uric acid.
- Heavy alcohol use.
- Exposure to environmental lead.
- Using certain medications, including diuretics, salicylates, and levodopa.
- Taking niacin, a vitamin that's also called nicotinic acid.
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Overeating, especially purine foods
- Having surgery
- Experiencing a sudden severe illness or trauma
- Going on a crash diet
- Injuring a joint
- Having chemotherapy
- Being under stress. The link isn't the stress itself, but the comfort eating or drinking that may accompany it.
If you have gout, see medical professional. There are several prescription medications that are very effective at eliminating excess uric acid. Untreated, gout may progress to serious joint damage and disability. Also, excess uric acid can cause kidney stones. For gout, though, there are several kitchen remedies that can be effective along with medication to alleviate the pain and symptoms. If you are looking for ways to prevent attacks of gout, a few suggestions are:
1. Maintain desirable weight. Since obesity is a contributing factor, keeping to a healthy weight will help prevent attacks.
2. Drink eight 6-ounce glasses of fluid a day. Not only will you reduce gout attacks by washing urate out of your system, but you will also help prevent kidney stones from forming.
3. Avoid alcohol. It causes the body to retain urate, a definite no-no if you have gout. However, one study has found that drinking wine doesn't seem to promote gout.
4. Check out your diet. People who eat diets rich in meat and seafood are more likely to develop the condition.
5. Avoid nonprescription water pills and other diuretics. They slow down the excretion of uric acid, which builds up in the blood and increases the risk of gout. If you have been prescribed a diuretic for another condition, such as high blood pressure, be sure the doctor knows that you have a tendency toward attacks of gout.
6. Avoid icing or heating the area. Unlike other types of pain, gout doesn't respond well to heat or ice therapy.
7. Wear comfortable shoes. Styles that offer a lot of room for the toes are the best choice. A shoe with a narrow, pointed toe box forces the big toe inward, which can often worsen gout pain.
