Gout – Symptoms, Causes, and Cure

Gout (otherwise known as podagra when it affects the big toe) is a complex medical condition similar to arthritis that often manifests as a painful, red, tender, and swollen joint often at the joints of the big toe. It occurs when there is an accumulation of uric acid that forms crystals in the joints. It is considered a chronic and progressive disease because these crystals may become hard deposits of uric acid in the joint that will ultimately affect kidney function, produce kidney stones and cause destruction of the affected joints. It can affect anyone; however, it is more likely to affect men than women. However, after menopause, the increase in incidence shifts to the side of women.

Luckily, gout is highly treatable and there are proven means to prevent the risks of gout flare ups from recurring.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of gout are straightforward. It occurs suddenly without warning, mostly at night and could last from several hours to days. The most common symptoms include:

Severe joint pain – gout often affects the big toes but other joints like the ankle, wrist, feet, hands and knees may also be affected. It is usually most severe within the first 24 to 48 hours after the onset of the symptom.
Discomfort – this type of discomfort is often lingering and last for a few days or a week after the pain has subsided.
Redness and inflammation – the joints affected usually appear to be swollen, red and tender.

Causes

Increased uric acid levels in the blood do not necessarily mean having gout. However, when the uric acid starts to build crystals that is when gout is diagnosed. The accumulation of uric acid in the blood and joints is normally caused by the breakdown of purines. Purines are naturally occurring substances in the body that are also found in certain foods like organ meats, anchovies, asparagus, legumes and certain mushrooms. In a normal process, the kidney would excrete the excess uric acid in the blood in the urine. However, the formation of urate crystal happens when the body produces too much uric acid or the kidney excrete too little of it.

Risk Factors

Lifestyle – Excessive alcohol use and high purine diet increases the risk of having gout.
Certain medical conditions – there are certain medical conditions that increase a person’s susceptibility to having gout including untreated hypertension, chronic diseases such as kidney failure and diabetes, high cholesterol levels in the blood and narrowing of the arteries.
Medications – thiazide – a diuretic used to treat high blood pressure as well as aspirin can increase the levels of uric acid in the blood.
Family History – Gout has heredofamilial qualities. If one of more family members has gout, one has a higher chance of having this disease.
Age and Gender– it occurs more frequently during middle aged of 40 to 50 in men and after menopause in women.

Treatment

Managing Pain

The onset of pain is considered the most debilitating aspect of having gout that is why one of the measures used by healthcare providers in patients with gout are those that will relieve pain. Certain measures are employed including:

Rest the affected joint because movement usually aggravates the pain.
Physicians may prescribe pain relievers in the form of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen to ease the pain.
Colchicines may be prescribed, as it is a drug used to reduce swelling, pain and inflammation.
Steroids such as corticosteroids may be injected to the affected joint to reduce pain.

Decreasing Uric Acid Levels

Decreasing uric acid levels may be essential if uric acid kidney stones are found. It may also be imperative for cases of gout that has several attacks during the same year. Uricosuric medications are used to increase the rate at which the kidneys eliminate uric acid in the blood. The most prescribed medication is allopurinol or probenecid as they are useful in lowering the uric acid levels in the blood.

Preventing Recurrent Attacks

Reduce organ meats, legumes, herring, anchovies, spinach, asparagus, cauliflower and other purine-rich food in the diet.
Reduce alcohol intake as alcohol reduces the release of uric acid by the kidneys into the urine impeding the natural excretion of uric acid leading to accumulation.
Lose weight slowly. Quick weight loss may lead to formation of uric acid kidney stones.
Ultimately, ask doctor or physician of best way to manage the disorder.

Prevention