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How to Prevent Gout and Painful Recurring Attack

March 3rd, 2011 No comments

What is gout? Gout, also known as metabolic rheumatism, is a result of abnormal accumulated uric acid in body that forms crystals. Men are more prone to get gout than women; this is because female hormone can encourage discharge of uric acid from body. Chance for women to develop gout is only 2% of men. Most of the male gout patients are more than 40 years old; while, women tend to develop gout after menopause. Once a person develops gout, this disease will be with him or her for the rest of life. If it is left untreated, it will bring other complications such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and kidney failure. Thus, knowledge and prevention on gout is very important.

prevent gout

Most of the gout patients start to feel the pain at toe area, which the skin turns reddish and glossy as of inflammation. The pain will be very serious as even the mild wind will exaggerate the pain.

How to prevent gout and painful recurring attack?

Avoid obesity

According to research done, uric acid level will raise proportionally with surface area of body. Thus, the very first step to prevent gout is to avoid becoming obese. Ideally, try to stay within 10% of the preferred BMI range. Cutting down calorie, avoiding heavy alcohol intake and overeating, and cutting down saturated fat are some basic ways to stay slim. Make it a habit to fully chew the food as eating too fast, without proper chewing, tends to promote overeating and deposition of fat.

Avoid food with high purine content

Uric acid is a side product of disintegration of purine in body. Animals organs (liver, kidney), anchovies, dried mushrooms, sardines, soybeans, seasoned foods contain high purine content (about 100 to 1000 milligram of purine content in every 100 gram of food). In fact, try substitute food with no or low purine content such as milk, yam, bread, rice, corn, egg, cheese, seaweed, fruit, and vegetable.

Control alcohol intake

Alcohol will increase formation of uric acid and curb kidney to pass it out. In fact, most of the recurring attack happens on the next day morning after a night out drinking session. Beer has the highest purine content among all other alcohol drinks and it will cause uric acid, cholesterol, neutral fat or triglyceride to go up.

painful recurring attack

Drink more water

Drinking more water helps to dilute the uric acid giving kidney more opportunity to pass it out from body, which helps in preventing kidney stone formation. A normal healthy person needs 1 to 2 liters of water; while, a gout patient needs at least 2 liters a day.

Do frequent light exercise

Intense exercise will increase uric acid level in body as it is side product of overworked muscles. Blood becomes more viscous as more water is lost from perspiration; thus, the chance for uric acid to form crystal is higher after intense exercise. Some examples of light exercise include walking, biking, jogging, swimming, golfing, and bowling. A 30 minutes slow jog can burn off 160 calories; thus do more light exercise and stay relaxed.

Categories: Arthritis Tags: ,

Gout Treatment

January 20th, 2011 No comments

Gout, at times known as podagra, is usually identified due to repeated attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis, which causes red, enlarged, swollen joint. The major cause of the disease is an abnormally elevated level of uric acid in the blood stream, a condition commonly known as hyperuricaemia. The most commonly affected area due to gout is the hallux or the big toe, as it may usually be called.

gout treatment

Treatments

Several common treatments of Gout are listed below:

1. NSAIDs. NSAIDs are the first-line treatment usually used for Gout. For these to work, the recommended treatment is for one to two weeks and the improvement might take around 4 hours to take effect. However, this treatment may not be recommended for those with renal failure, heart failure or gastrointestinal bleeding.

2. Colchisine. An alternative to NSAIDs is Colchisine. However, its use is highly restricted due to a soaring number of side effects.

3. Steroids. Injecting these directly into the joints may lead to significant improvements.

4. Other medicines. Various other medicines may also be used for treatment of Gout.

Uricinex

There are a number of products already available that claims to be an effective cure for this illness. In this article, Uricinex will be tackled.

This treatment was instituted to be an effective treatment for the said inflammatory illness. Based wholly on the natural extracts, the pill claims to work wonders for gout patients. The first online distribution was by the Smith & Smith Enterprise in 1998. This was trademarked by Network Solutions LLC. Since then it has been sold under various different names.

How Uricinex Works?
Proscar online pharmacy
This product claims to be a pill manufactured through extraction of various natural sources. Due to these natural traits, there are zero side effects reported. Gout is a result of the crystallization of excess uric acid within the joints. It works through converting them to water and give it a passage out of the body through urine. It claims to not affect the regular production of uric acid and therefore, that of kidneys and liver. It merely helps the body pass excess uric acid through the urinary tract.

Common Side Effects

Since the product is made out of natural herbs, there are not a lot of side effects reported. Various studies have been carried out, varying the dosage of the drug given every time, but they hardly resulted in any significant side effects.

Categories: Arthritis Tags: ,

How Do People Develop Gout?

December 1st, 2010 No comments

If you or someone you love has fallen victim to this dreadful disease known as Gout, it is critical that you learn how and why. Red, hot, shiny and painful joints are just the beginning. This disease can quickly spiral out of control and is a strong warning sign of more serious internal disruption taking place. Let us first address the factors involved in its development to grasp a better understanding of how to properly get it under control.

Contributing Factors

• Low Kidney Clearance Restricted Blood Flow
• Liver Abnormalities Obesity
• Overly Acidic and Purine Rich Diet Alcohol Consumption
Stress Poor Nutrient / Vitamin Intake
• Low Friendly Bacteria Presence Antibiotic Use
• Prescription and OTC Medications High Blood Pressure Diuretics
• Illness / Injury / Surgery Crash Dieting & High Protein Diet
• Water Intake & Source Chlorine Contact

Low kidney clearance can stem from the lack of or even too much water, an overly acidic body imbalance, and the extra weight from heavy filtering requirements by things such as prescription and over the counter medications for example. The kidneys are responsible for the filtering of uric acid along with impurities and other waste products. This can be a challenge if there is excessive uric acid production at hand and/or if the under secretion of uric acid is related to decreased kidney function. In any instance, the trapped uric acid amounts settle in the joints, tissue, fat, kidneys, and liver where storage and crystallizing begin.

The blood is responsible for carrying the uric acid to the kidneys and then to the urine and bowels in order to be disposed. Lack of blood flow allows for any crystallized uric acid to remain trapped and inhibits the soluble amount from being expelled of properly in order to avoid the storage and crystal formation.

The liver is the take all for any and all foreign invaders in the body. As the largest gland it is responsible for food metabolism, bile secretion, removal of waste from the blood, toxin filtering, blood volume control, and the synthesizing of essential vitamins and nutrients. When the liver, and kidneys for that matter, have so many other toxic encounters to deal with daily, then something as natural and necessary like uric acid can become one of the last matters to deal with. Any reduced function of both can greatly attribute to uric acid imbalance and excretion adding a higher possibility of gouty arthritis formation.

Now we can begin to see how some of the other contributing factors listed above only add to the demise of these very important functions responsible for uric acid balance. Additionally, things such as alcohol consumption directly affect and consumes the attention of the liver and kidneys hindering proper uric acid expulsion. Alcohol not only dehydrates the blood responsible for carrying the uric acid through and out of the body, but it is also rich in purines further producing excessive uric acid.

Obesity which can affect the heart, blood flow, friendly bacteria levels and nutrient assimilation places excess strain on these same organs and functions. As a result, extra uric acid production is common and even more so from the typical diet involved in obesity cases as well as the lack of secretion from this stress placed on all areas responsible for the filtering.

Even without the presence of obesity, the typical diet is overly acidic and purine rich. We know that uric acid is the waste product from the breakdown of purines and purines are the metabolic end result of protein. So too many purines equal too much uric acid production with not nearly enough exits from the body has to result in storage somewhere in the body. Acidic/Alkaline balance in the diet, particularly within each meal, is essential to normal function and control of all areas involved. To achieve this balance it is said that at least a 70/30 ratio of alkaline to acidic intake is key. Our typical modern diet is exactly the opposite and in many cases even worse finding mostly a 20/80 ratio.

The Atkins Diet is very high protein and very acidic with little to no alkaline balance, which is essential to creating a healthy body environment. An acidic state allows for disease growth so in turn diets like these can certainly raise your chances or even directly contribute to gout and other degenerative disease development. Crash Diets work against the body draining it of vital nutrients, creating an acidic body environment and releasing stored purines from the body fat in the process. As you know excess purine release equals excess uric acid production.

Stress in another harsh offender to the body raising acidity levels and killing off strains of good bacteria meant to protect you. Stress can be a key factor in disease growth as it flourishes in these types of environments.

Prescription and Over the Counter Medications are notorious for their acidic nature and host of side effects that come along with their use. Some are worse than others but they all can contribute to nutrient and good bacteria depletion and heavily weigh on the very organs and functions you need working at their best. High blood pressure and cholesterol drugs are some of the top nutrient depleting drugs on the market so it important to at least try to supplement in some vitamins and friendly bacteria during their use. High Blood Pressure Diuretics can add even more concern regarding Gout as tend to drain too much water from the blood leaving room for much higher uric acid concentrations. The lack of proper water intake amount daily for many adds fuel to the fire. Not only is there too much water being pushed from the body, but not nearly enough going in to replace it and remain properly hydrated, once again leaving any hopes of proper uric acid excretion minimal at best. It is that much more important to be aware of your water intake daily and avoid some of these complications when possible. Secondary Gout, when gout occurs due to another condition such as renal disease, is also very common with conditions such as High blood pressure and Diabetes. Other common contributors to Secondary gout can stem from synthetic diuretic usage as detailed above, low dose aspirin use which limits the excretion of uric acid, and high dose Niacin use prescribed for High Cholesterol. Oddly enough, adult dose aspirin does not have the same negative effect in altering the excretion of uric acid as does the commonly prescribed low dose amount of 81mg.

Antibiotic use can contribute to the development of high uric acid concentration. Even short term use can push someone already bordering their first attack over that edge and can be a key factor in its development if long term and repetitive use has taken place. This holds truth because antibiotics are meant to kill off all of the bad bacteria in the body but also take all the good with it as well. Over 70% of your immune system is in your digestive system and low friendly bacteria counts place a lot of strain on your system’s ability to fight infection and disease growth. In fact disease growth flourishes in an acidic and toxic environment which is exactly what is at stake without enough friendly bacteria present to rule the intestines. Unfortunately, all of the above contributing factors to gout also directly affect and kill of this most-valuable good bacteria in the body. Stress, obesity, medications, overly acidic diets, processed foods, sugar, alcohol, chlorinated water and many more all add to the demise of our good bacteria.

Chlorine is inhaled through the steam of a hot shower, bath, hot tub, pool, etc. and also seeps into our pores under these circumstances as well. Chlorine is also found in our tap water and has a direct effect on our health in any manner of contact. Chlorine not only destroys vital strains of friendly bacteria in our body but is a health risk in general for many other reasons. Please reference the section on Chlorine and Gout found below for more information.

Water consumption and the source for your drinking water are both very important. Unfortunately a good portion of our society is dehydrated and isn’t even aware of it, which poses major health risks. As stated above, a good water source is equally as important for its purity necessity. With relation to Gout in particular, proper water intake is an essential key to blood hydration and kidney filtration in order to properly expel uric acid from the body.

Illness, injury, and surgery can all factor into pushing over that edge and into your first attack. Most likely you were already in the developing stages and experiencing overproduction and storage of uric acid and it was simply too much for the body to handle yet one more challenge without repercussions. This can be directed right back towards a lot of the above factors as all three situations usually entail extra stress, pain medication use, fast weight gain or loss, and antibiotic use. Not the best of combinations if predisposition is already at stake.

Categories: Arthritis Tags: ,

Safe Gout Prevention Tips

November 3rd, 2010 No comments

The difference between chronic and frequent gout attacks is that in the case of chronic gout, the discomfort and pain are almost constant and never subsiding. Chronic gout patients suffer from nearly permanent redness and inflammation. The patient will need special treatment in such cases as the pain is very high.

Gout is normally caused due to high levels of uric acid in the body. This condition of having high level of uric acid in blood is known as Hyperuricemia. The main factor responsible for such a condition is diet. A diet consisting of high purine foods can lead to this condition. This is because purines are converted to uric acid once they are eaten.

What Foods to Eat and Avoid

Sea foods have high purine content. Tuna, trout, octopus and sardines etc are some of the examples of such sea foods which gout patients should avoid. Other than sea food, beef, poultry and duck meat also have high levels of purine. You should also avoid soy milk, meat, beans, spinach, peas, mushrooms.

There are some foods which have low level of purine and gout patients might consume these:

  • Milk, cheese
  • Eggs
  • Tea, coffee
  • Chocolate, sugar, honey
  • Peanuts
  • Vinegar, pickles
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Rice, cereals, white bread

If someone is suffering from gout, they should try to get it treated early. If left untreated, the condition may worsen and you may develop chronic gout. Gout attacks may become more frequent, more severe and last for longer time if proper treatment and prevention steps are not taken on time. Gout may even spread to multiple joints, thus making life very miserable.

You can make some changes in your lifestyle and eating habits in order to prevent and restrict gout. There are also some natural home remedies available for this disease.

Gout Prevention Tips

Here are some gout prevention tips to be followed:

1. Eat a well balanced diet which is not high in purine content
2. Avoid foods which have high or medium levels of purine
3. Eat foods which are rich in Vitamin C. Examples are cherries and blueberries
4. Drink a lot of water to flush out uric acid through urine
5. Exercise regularly – at least walk for 30 minutes daily
6. Eat foods which are rich in potassium
7. Avoid alcohol at all costs

The above are just prevention tips which should be followed at all times by gout patients. Apart from these, you should try out gout treatment so that you don’t get gout attacks in future. Medication might be necessary in severe cases. However, natural remedies are more preferable.

Categories: Arthritis Tags: ,

Understanding a Loved One’s Gout

September 24th, 2010 No comments

If your loved one has been diagnosed with gout, it is quite likely that you have a natural curiosity about this particular condition. Gout is an arthritis based condition that comes as a result of high levels of uric acid within the body. This acid is naturally contained within each one of our bodies. It is most often filtered out through the kidneys. For the individual that has gout, the uric acid is not filtered and eliminated from the body appropriately.

As it remains in the body, it starts to harden and turns into a type of crystal. These crystals could cause complications such as hard, painful nodules under the skin, kidney stones, and an intense degree of pain and discomfort for the sufferer. In this guide, you will learn important steps on how to be understanding of a loved one’s diagnosis of gout.

Emotional Understanding

When an individual suffers from gout, it will result in many changes in their life. The symptoms may prevent the person from enjoying the activities that they once enjoyed. They may start to experience many physical limitations and symptoms that prevent them from being as physically active as they were prior to the onset of the illness. This may produce a high level of anxiety and/or depression within the person.

They may start to feel guilty because they are unable to make commitments, visit others, and do activities with social groups like they used to. The best step for assisting your loved one is to show them that you are emotionally supportive of their situation. If they are unable to do activities, bring the activities to them. If they want to discuss their illness, be their sounding board. Emotional support is essential when it comes to helping your loved one cope with gout.

Physical Assistance

It is important to understand that gout has a detrimental effect on the joints, muscles, and connective tissues of the body. In addition to this, it also affects the organs of the body – especially the kidneys. As a result, it may result in a limited range of motion and limited movements. If you want to be supportive of your loved one, it is important to understand that physical assistance may be necessary.

You may have to help your loved one move from one location to another, help them with their personal care, or even help them with the chores that need to be done around their home. This may include cleaning their home, washing their dishes, doing their laundry, or even performing tasks that need done in the yard.

If you want to be supportive and understanding, it is important to be there for your loved one in both an emotional and physical manner. By doing so, you will not only assist them in coping, but it will help you cope with the diagnosis that they have received and the effects that it has on them.

About the Author: Anne Ahira is an established entrepreneur and successful coach in her country of Indonesia. Her success story has been published in many nationwide publications in Indonesia.

Making a lucrative income online is a challenging endeavor, but by getting the *right* information, it is an endeavor that you can succeed at!

Categories: Arthritis Tags: ,

Gout Risk Factors

September 20th, 2010 No comments

Knowing your risk of getting gout can help you defeat it. Here, you’ll discover key gout risk factors so you can see if you’re at risk and what you need to do to eliminate gout.

First, to really understand gout risk factors you need to understand the cause(s) of gout…

Gout is caused by high uric acid in the body — a condition known as hyperuricemia — which leads to gout crystals forming in your joints, that cause the symptoms of gout.

And uric acid is produced when natural compounds called ‘purines’ that exist in our bodies and food breakdown during the natural metabolizing process.

So basically, more purines leads to more uric acid, which leads to higher uric acid levels in the body, which then leads to urate crystals in your joints and the agonies of gout.

The key gout risk factors can indicate who is more at risk of gout attacks…

OVERWEIGHT

An overweight person has a higher risk simply because there is more body mass that can be broken down during metabolization, so increasing uric acid production, i.e. the more tissue that is naturally broken down, the more uric acid is produced. This can lead to hyperuricemia and so gout. If you are thirty pounds or more above your ideal weight, then you could be at risk.

DIET

Purines exist in our foods at varying levels ranging from relatively low through to very high. So the more high-purine content food you consume the more uric acid will be produced. The western diet can be particularly rich in high-purine foods, e.g. red meat, organ meat, seafood, etc.

ALCOHOL

Alcohol, particularly beer, is known to inhibit the proper excretion of uric acid out of your body. This leads to excess uric acid retention and hyperuricemia. If you are a man and drink on average 2 or more drinks a day, or, if you’re a women who drinks 1 or more per day, you could be at risk.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS

Several medical conditions can put you at a higher risk of getting gout. Some of these are; high blood pressure, high cholesterol, narrowing of the arteries, diabetes, and chemotherapy.

MEDICATIONS

These include diuretics, cyclosporine (immuno-suppressant), levodopa (for Parkinson’s disease), medications that use salicylic acid (e.g. aspirin), medications for high blood pressure, niacin (vitamin), etc.

FAMILY HISTORY

It is believed that around 25% of gout sufferers have a family history of the condition. And since gout is one of the many forms of arthritis, this condition in the family should also be taken into account. So that if there is a history of gout or arthritis in your family you are at a higher risk of gout than somebody who hasn’t that history.

SEX

Since men on average have naturally higher uric acid in their bodies than women, they suffer gout more. But, after the menopause, women can suffer just as much as men, because at that time their uric acid levels rise.

AGE

Men between 30 and 50 suffer more gout than at any other age. Women over 50 get gout more. So that a man between 30 and 50, and, a women over 50, are most at risk of gout. There is very little gout in children and young adults.

You now have some idea of your risk factor for gout. Now, all you have to do is to work out how to use this information to help eliminate gout and prevent it returning time and again which can lead to things like permanent joint damage.

Categories: Arthritis Tags: ,

Natural Gout Pain Relief

June 16th, 2010 No comments

For natural gout pain relief many gout sufferers have found celery seeds to be effective. Here, you’ll learn why and how to use them for natural pain relief instead of drugs.

WHY NATURAL GOUT PAIN RELIEF?

Although drug-based medications can reduce inflammation, relieve pain and lower uric acid levels, they do have some really nasty side effects. Typical of these are: nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, bleeding, ulcers, skin allergies, and so on.

And these drugs only work whilst they are being taken. For example drugs to lower uric acid and maintain those lower levels, need to be taken over the longer term, months, even years.

Which is why many gout sufferers seek natural home remedies for their gout. And there are many such natural treatments for gout out there. But, according to many gout sufferers, celery seeds make up one of the best natural remedies for their gout.

WHY CELERY SEEDS AS A NATURAL REMEDY FOR GOUT?

Celery is a biennial plant that has been cultivated for thousands of years. It is of the Apiaceae family and is related to parsley, carrots, dill and fennel.

Celery seeds are actually very tiny fruit and are cultivated for their many natural health benefits, one of which is their use in arthritis, especially gout.

The seeds have more than 20 types of anti-inflammatory properties. And their use for pain relief was recorded as far back as 30 AD by Aulus Cornelius Celsus. They can also reduce uric acid levels in the blood.

So, they are an excellent choice of natural treatment for gout.

HOW TO USE CELERY SEEDS TO RELIEVE YOUR GOUT PAIN

First off, the seeds you use shouldn’t be the seeds you get for cultivation as these are likely to have been treated with a fungicide. You need to use celery seeds from a herbalist or health food shop which are for consumption.

The preparation is rather simple:

(1) Put 1 tablespoon of celery seeds into 2 cups of water and boil until the seeds are soft.
(2) Strain the seeds from the mixture and dispose of them, leaving only the hot ‘tea’ left.
(3) Drink a half a cup of the celery seed tea four times a day until your gout symptoms have abated.

Important Note:

Since celery seeds are a natural diuretic, you must not use this remedy if you are a pregnant women or if you suffer from kidney dysfunction or kidney disease. And, of course, if you suffer from a celery allergy then you must not use this remedy either.

BUT THERE IS MORE YOU NEED TO DO TO PREVENT POTENTIAL FUTURE PROBLEMS

Although celery seeds can be very effective in getting rid of gout pain and the symptoms of an attack, you need to actually prevent recurring gout attacks as these can lead to permanent joint damage and / or kidney problems over time.

So you need, not only to get gout pain relief, but to do something positive to prevent your gout happening again and again. As well as other natural remedies, this involves things like your lifestyle, diet, weight, medications you might be taking, underlying medical conditions, etc.
You’re in luck though. There’s a special gout report available online [see below] that has all the information you need in one place. It is what thousands of ex-gout victims worldwide have successfully used to prevent their gout returning. It also contains a special 2 hour gout pain relief program.

And it uses fully-researched, totally natural methods. So that you benefit two ways:

(1) you get rid of your excruciating pain very fast, and,

(2) you prevent your gout returning, so that you reduce the risk of permanent damage.

Gout – Causes and Ways For Relief

May 30th, 2010 No comments

Gout, a form of arthritis, happens when uric acid builds up and solidifies in the joints (ankles, elbows, heels, and wrists). For gout sufferers, “solidifies in the joints” doesn’t just sound painful, it is painful. Gout is often characterized by red, swollen joints which are tender to the touch. It is different from osteoarthritis since gout is caused by the byproduct of the body processing purine: urate or uric acid.

gout pain

The kidneys usually filter uric acid out, but high levels of it or kidney problems may cause uric acid to stay in the bloodstream. High levels of uric acid in the blood, called hyperuricemia, can increase the possibility of a person getting gout. Gout can be caused because of genetics, diet, inefficient excretion of urate, or a combination of factors.

Gout can also come up as at the heels of other medical conditions as a complication. Renal failure, diabetes, hypertension, and leukemia, among other things can bring about gout.

From the first time one gets a gout flare up, the first time one would wake up to a swollen big toe, it can recur frequently depending on one’s diet and lifestyle. Currently, there are no known cures for gout though one can manage it through a careful diet.

Gout is often associated with the overindulgence in alcohol, seafood, and food rich in purine like organ meats, sardines, red meat, beans, beer, and wine, among others. Limiting one’s intake of the said foods can minimize the frequency and intensity of the gout attacks. Basically, modifying one’s diet can prevent long-term joint damage and severe gout attacks, generally lower the levels of uric acid in the blood stream, and naturally ease the pain and discomfort that comes with the condition.

gout diet

Exercise is also suggested for people with gout since obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are also big factors in getting the disease. Switching to a healthier, more active lifestyle can alleviate the pain from gout and maybe even reduce the possibility of uric acid crystallizing in one’s joints.

Along with exercise and proper diet, undergoing water therapy (drinking lots of water) and eating garlic is also recommended for people suffering from gout as an alternative treatment. Contrast hydrotherapy can also be used during an attack. This is done by using a hot water compress for 3 minutes then switching to a cold water compress for 30 seconds and the process is repeated. This is said to help ease the pain by helping dissolve the uric crystals in the joints. A proper diet and a healthy lifestyle change should help those with gout manage the condition better and decrease the possibility of severe attacks in the long run.

Categories: Pain Management Tags:

What is Gout?

April 27th, 2010 No comments

A question often asked is, what is gout? Gout is one of the most common forms of arthritis which afflicts various joints of the body. This can cause significant swelling, some inflammation and severe pain. It normally affects one joint in the body at a time – most commonly the big toe; however, it can affect any or many of your joints including:

  • instep (arch of the foot)
  • finger
  • wrist
  • elbow
  • heel
  • ankle
  • knee

Gout is primarily found in men aged between the ages of 30 and 60 years of age, as well as in older people of both sexes. Compiled statistics show that it to be one of the most common forms of arthritis. Figures suggest that over 1 in 200 adult people are affected worldwide in developed countries. Whilst it is predominantly a male condition with more men than women getting gout, women can and do suffer from the condition.

The lower instance of gout in women is due to the fact that naturally women produce a lower level of urate in their bloodstream. Urate is the primary trigger of gout attacks. It must however be noted that after the onset of the menopause there is a marked increase in the numbers of reported cases in women. Whilst middle age is the most common demographical group for gout attacks, young adults and children can also get affected albeit this is rare.

Some people only ever have a single attack of gout in their lifetime, but for many people it does return on a fairly regular basis, increasing in frequency in many cases as the joint becomes weaker and more damaged. An gout attack is often spontaneous but may also be triggered by illness, excessive alcohol or too much exercise. It is also known to be hereditary in some cases.

Gout attacks usually last for between three to 10 days although in some severe outbreaks it can last for longer – over a month. After the attack has subsided the joint should feel normal and pain-free again with no impaired movement, certainly not hot to the touch or inflamed. The random nature of gout makes attacks are almost impossible to predict and sadly if they are not treated, it can cause future attacks to be more frequent prolonged in some cases resulting in permanent damage to the joint.

What is Gout caused by? It is the result of a build-up of uric acid commonly referred to as urate, in the bloodstream. The urate becomes oversaturated forming crystals which lodge in the affected joints. Microscopic images of urate crystals show them to be sharp and almost needle like. Urate is usually a harmless waste product which is produced by the body when it breaks down certain substances in foods known as purines. Sometimes however the body cannot excrete all of the urate that is produced leading to the formation of the crystals.

Gout is common and there are a number of effective treatments and medicines that can help ease pain, reduce inflammation and prevent future attacks. These include both natural and manmade remedies. It must be noted that due to the destructive nature of chronic gout, pain relief must be administered in conjunction with medication that will prevent the gout recurring as if pain relief is used in isolation without addressing the underlying cause of the acid build up, it can mask pain yet lead to permanent damage to the joint.

Categories: Arthritis Tags: , ,

Gout Diet

January 19th, 2010 No comments

Gout is known as one of the most painful diseases that a person as suffer from as it attacks and damages the joints. Some of the joints that are affected by this type of arthritis are the knee, finger joints, wrist, elbow, heel, the instep which is the arch of the foot and the ankle. Mostly in men gout affects men who are in the age bracket of about thirty years to sixty years. With proper treatment any one who is suffering from gout can be cured using some of the gout pain relief diet.

Foods that cause gout are usually foods that have high levels of purine or any diet that consists of food rich in purines. A diet that has high levels of purine usually causes gout as the purine is broken down to produce the end result which is uric acid, which if not properly flushed out of the body, accumulates in the joints of the body and solidifies to cause inflammations on the joints that are very painful. A good gout diet should have fruits such as strawberries which help to neutralize the uric acid that may be present in the body. Also cherries can be consumed as they as well neutralize the uric acid in the body. A gout diet should include drinking a lot of water about eight to ten glasses a day so as to flush and dilute the uric acid. Gout pain relief diet for out gout cure includes consuming foods which are rich in vitamin C and also citrus fruits such as tomatoes which reduce inflammations that may be present in the joints thus relieving the patient of any pain that he or she may be suffering from.

Gout diet should be high with carbohydrates such as whole grains, vegetables and fruits. Also the diet should have low protein food like soy, lean meat and poultry and the diet should contain more than ten percent of animal fat and thirty percent of calories. Foods to avoid for gout are foods that are rich in purine; these foods include meat extract, gravies, cauliflower, peas, yeast, anchovies, sardines in oil, fish roes and beverages such as beer. Gout treatment includes medicine that is prescribed to the patient to relief pain as well as the swelling on the joints.