Gout - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Peter Rodrick
November 09, 2008
Gout is a disease that affects the joints. Left untreated, it can lead to painful foot deformity and even kidney problems. The good news is that by treating gout early, you can relieve pain and help prevent future problems. Gout can usually be treated with medication and proper diet. In severe cases, surgery may be needed.
Uric acid is a by product of purines being broken down by the body's digestive and waste system , which in turn breaks down and builds up body and food tissues through food intake. Generally the uric acid is dissolved in the blood and also flushed out through the kidneys.
Causes of Gout
Gout is caused by excessive accumulation of uric acid in the tissues. The underlying cause of uric acid accumulation is unknown, yet research has found that it can basically be attributed to metabolic or kidney problems. Increased production of uric acid may be the result of metabolic enzyme defects, certain types of chronic anemia, or other complex conditions. Dehydration and kidney disease can cause poor clearance of uric acid from the body.
More than 99% of primary gout cases are referred to as idiopathic, meaning that the cause of the hyperuricemia cannot be determined. They are most likely due to a combination of hormonal and genetic factors that cause metabolic abnormalities resulting in overproduction of uric acid or reduced excretion of uric acid. Consumption of certain purine-rich foods and certain alcoholic beverages may also contribute to primary gout. The remaining 1% of primary gout cases are traceable to either of two rare inherited enzyme defects that affect purine synthesis in the cells.
Alcohol consumption: drinking too many alcoholic drinks can lead to hyperuricemia because alcohol interferes with the removal of uric acid from the body.
Signs and Symptoms of Gout
Gout is the most painful of all types of arthritis. It usually develops after many years of uric acid crystals buildup in the joints and surrounding tissues. Gout attacks are sudden with the most common gout symptom being an attack at night where there is an extremely sharp pain in a joint / joints. This is the stage of acute gouty arthritis. The pain is accompanied by redness and swelling of the area. In a maximum number of cases the pain occurs in the joints of the big toe. Gout can also happen to the foot, ankle, heel, knee, wrist, elbow, or finger joints. The attack could last for a few days to a few weeks and then vanish. The next attack could happen within weeks, months, or could even take a few years to re-appear.
An attack will usually taper off on its own in 3-10 days, but prompt treatment can end it faster. After such an attack, called acute gout or acute gouty arthritis, over half of sufferers will have another episode within the next year. Attacks tend to strike more often, last longer, and affect more joints over time.
Gout Treatment
The goal of treatment is to decrease the amount of uric acid in the joints, which helps to reduce symptoms and prevent further attacks. If left untreated, affected joints may be damaged, causing disability. Acute gout often is treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as naproxen (e.g., Anaprox®, Naprosyn®) and indomethacin (e.g., Indocin®), usually for 3–7 days. Due to potentially severe gastrointestinal and cardiovascular side effects, NSAIDs should only be used as instructed.
Your GP will ensure that any medication you are prescribed is tailored to your individual needs. In order to work out what treatment will be best for you, they will consider your age, general health and any conditions you may already have. If your symptoms of gout are mild, and you experience severe side effects of medication, you may wish to consider treating your condition without the use of prescribed medication. For some people, the downsides of medication can outweigh the benefits. However, this is something you will have to discuss carefully with your GP. You should never stop taking any prescribed medication before speaking to your GP first.
Visit Home Remedies. Do not forget to visit Vagina Tightening Cream and Breast Capsules
Uric acid is a by product of purines being broken down by the body's digestive and waste system , which in turn breaks down and builds up body and food tissues through food intake. Generally the uric acid is dissolved in the blood and also flushed out through the kidneys.
Causes of Gout
Gout is caused by excessive accumulation of uric acid in the tissues. The underlying cause of uric acid accumulation is unknown, yet research has found that it can basically be attributed to metabolic or kidney problems. Increased production of uric acid may be the result of metabolic enzyme defects, certain types of chronic anemia, or other complex conditions. Dehydration and kidney disease can cause poor clearance of uric acid from the body.
More than 99% of primary gout cases are referred to as idiopathic, meaning that the cause of the hyperuricemia cannot be determined. They are most likely due to a combination of hormonal and genetic factors that cause metabolic abnormalities resulting in overproduction of uric acid or reduced excretion of uric acid. Consumption of certain purine-rich foods and certain alcoholic beverages may also contribute to primary gout. The remaining 1% of primary gout cases are traceable to either of two rare inherited enzyme defects that affect purine synthesis in the cells.
Alcohol consumption: drinking too many alcoholic drinks can lead to hyperuricemia because alcohol interferes with the removal of uric acid from the body.
Signs and Symptoms of Gout
Gout is the most painful of all types of arthritis. It usually develops after many years of uric acid crystals buildup in the joints and surrounding tissues. Gout attacks are sudden with the most common gout symptom being an attack at night where there is an extremely sharp pain in a joint / joints. This is the stage of acute gouty arthritis. The pain is accompanied by redness and swelling of the area. In a maximum number of cases the pain occurs in the joints of the big toe. Gout can also happen to the foot, ankle, heel, knee, wrist, elbow, or finger joints. The attack could last for a few days to a few weeks and then vanish. The next attack could happen within weeks, months, or could even take a few years to re-appear.
An attack will usually taper off on its own in 3-10 days, but prompt treatment can end it faster. After such an attack, called acute gout or acute gouty arthritis, over half of sufferers will have another episode within the next year. Attacks tend to strike more often, last longer, and affect more joints over time.
Gout Treatment
The goal of treatment is to decrease the amount of uric acid in the joints, which helps to reduce symptoms and prevent further attacks. If left untreated, affected joints may be damaged, causing disability. Acute gout often is treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as naproxen (e.g., Anaprox®, Naprosyn®) and indomethacin (e.g., Indocin®), usually for 3–7 days. Due to potentially severe gastrointestinal and cardiovascular side effects, NSAIDs should only be used as instructed.
Your GP will ensure that any medication you are prescribed is tailored to your individual needs. In order to work out what treatment will be best for you, they will consider your age, general health and any conditions you may already have. If your symptoms of gout are mild, and you experience severe side effects of medication, you may wish to consider treating your condition without the use of prescribed medication. For some people, the downsides of medication can outweigh the benefits. However, this is something you will have to discuss carefully with your GP. You should never stop taking any prescribed medication before speaking to your GP first.
Visit Home Remedies. Do not forget to visit Vagina Tightening Cream and Breast Capsules
Print
Email
