Get lasting relief from Gout

Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that causes pain and swelling in one or more joints.

When your body produces excess uric acid or does not excrete enough of it, it builds up to form needle-like urate crystals in the bones and joints, triggering inflammation and pain in the joints and surrounding tissues. If left untreated, excess uric acid and its associated crystals can cause serious complications in many ways which can extend beyond joint pain and affect your overall quality of life.

Causes of Gout

Gout occurs from the deposition of urate crystals in the joints. When your body breaks down the chemical called purines, it produces uric acid. Purines are natural substances found in the body as well as in certain foods.

Usually, uric acid dissolves in blood and travels to the kidneys. From there, it is excreted out in the urine. However, at times, your body produces too much uric acid or does not excrete enough. When this happens, uric acid can build up, forming sharp, needlelike urate crystals in a joint or surrounding tissue causing the inflammation and intense pain of a gout attack.

Symptoms of Gout

The typical gout picture is a swollen, big, red toe. But it’s also found in other joints, including the knee, ankle, foot, hand, wrist and elbow

The signs and symptoms of gout almost always occur suddenly, and often flares up overnight. Symptoms include:

• Intense joint pain (toe, knee, ankle, foot, hand, wrist and elbow)
• Inflammation and redness (affected joint or joints become swollen, tender, warm and red)
• Movement limitations (gout progression can restrict normal movements in your joints)

Risk Factors of Gout

You’re more likely to develop gout if you have high levels of uric acid in your body. Factors that increase uric acid levels in your body include:

• Diet: Having a diet high in foods with purines, such as seafood, shellfish, or red meat and drinking beverages sweetened with fruit sugar (fructose) increase levels of uric acid, which in turn increases your risk of gout.
• Excess intake of alcohol: Alcohol consumption, especially of beer, also increases the risk of gout.
• Family history of gout:If you have a relative with gout, it may be passed on to you.

• Age and sex: Gout occur more often in men, primarily because their body naturally contains a higher level of uric acid, and the risk peaks between 30-50 years of age. Women on the other hand, tend to have lower uric acid levels than men. However, after menopause the uric acid levels in women almost equals that of men, which puts them at an equivalent risk of developing gout.
• Medical conditions:Untreated high blood pressure and chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and heart and kidney diseases can increase your risk of gout.
• Certain medications: Certain diuretics for high blood pressure (and other conditions), aspirin and medicines prescribed for people who have undergone an organ transplant can trigger gout.
• Recent surgery or trauma: A recent surgery or trauma can sometimes trigger a gout attack.