What is gout?

• Gout is a type of arthritis that results from too much uric acid in the body. Uric acid is a waste product that naturally occurs in the body. It is normally flushed from the body by the kidneys through urine.
• With gout the body either makes too much uric acid or does not excrete enough. The uric acid forms into crystals that, because these have nowhere else to go, deposit in different parts of the body.
• Often the excess uric acid crystals deposit in the joints. This causes pain, swelling and tenderness in the area. This is called inflammation.
• Gout most often affects the big toe but can also affect the ankle, knee, foot, hand, wrist and elbow.

What are the symptoms of gout?

• Intense, ongoing pain in one joint, usually the big toe, that seems to have come on for no reason.
• Hot, red swollen skin and a feeling of pressure around the painful area. There may also be the feeling that the skin around the area is stretching or tearing.
• During the night while sleeping, after having gone to bed in good health. During the night, they are awakened by acute pain in the big toe or, more rarely, in the heel, ankle or instep.

What causes gout?

• There seem to be a number of factors that can cause people to develop gout.
• Many people who develop gout also have other family members with it.
• Some medications can prevent uric acid from leaving the body. This can cause a build up of uric acid crystals and cause an attack of gout.
• Alcohol and certain foods can trigger a gout attack.
• Events such as strokes, heart attacks or surgery may also cause gout.

What can you do about gout?

• If your doctor thinks you have gout, he or she may perform tests to measure the amount of uric acid in your body. These tests may include a urine test, or your doctor may insert a needle into the painful joint to take a sample of joint fluid.
• Although there is no cure for gout, there are a number of steps you can take to bring your gout under control.
• Learn as much as you can about this disease. Speaking with people who are specialists in arthritis care can provide you with the information you need.

Risk factors

There are certain factors that can affect your likelihood of getting gout. You are more likely to have gout if you:

• are a man, as the plasma urate level normally tends to be higher in men than women
• consume high levels of a substance called purine in your diet
• drink lots of alcohol, which interferes with how your body passes out urate
• take certain medicines, such as diuretics, which increase the flow of urine from the body
• have a family history of gout
• have a family history of kidney disease causing the kidneys to not pass enough urate out in the urine
• are overweight
• have a medical condition such as psoriasis which can sometimes cause your body to produce too much urate
• have high blood pressure
• injure a joint

A variety of treatments can help you manage your gout.

·         Medicine

These drugs help reduce the pain and swelling of joints and decrease stiffness. However, they do not prevent further joint damage. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) usually form the first line of treatment in an acute attack. NSAIDs reduce pain when taken at a low dose, and relieve inflammation when taken at a higher dose. Those who don’t respond well to a NSAID may be given cortisone. Often the cortisone is injected into the joint. Cortisone is a steroid that reduced inflammation and swelling. For severe pain and inflammation, doctors can inject a powerful anti-inflammatory drug, called a corticosteroid, directly into the affected joint.

·         Diet

§         Some foods and drinks may cause your body to produce too much uric acid. To keep levels of uric acid low reduce your amount of certain foods and drinks, such as coffee, cocoa, tea, seafood, liver, gravy, peas, and spinach.

§         Alcohol (beer, wine, etc.) also stops uric acid from leaving your body and can trigger gout.

§         Sudden changes in your diet or dramatic weight gain/loss may also cause gout attacks.

·         Exercise

Moderate stretching exercises can help keep the muscles and tendons around the affected joint more flexible and strong. Low-impact exercises like swimming, walking, water aerobics and stationary bicycling can all help you maintain strength and flexibility and increase your endurance. Always consult a doctor before beginning an exercise program.

·         Heat / Cold

§         Applying heat helps relax aching muscles, and reduces joint pain and soreness. For example, take a hot shower.

§         Applying cold helps to lessen the pain and swelling in a joint. For example, put an ice pack on the area that is sore.

·         Protect Your Joints

Protecting your joints means using them in ways that avoid excess stress. Benefits include less pain and greater ease in doing tasks.