Gout is a form of arthritis that affects millions of people all over the globe. In this type of arthritis people feel severe pain and redness in their joints. This type of disease is really painful and exhausting in nature. Although it is an old disease that people have been suffering from for centuries, this disease is debatable. Due to the lack of proper understanding and not knowing about effective management people still are not aware about it. Here in this complete article we will talk about what actually gout is? What are its symptoms and causes? How to treat and cure it effectively. So stay connected because this article is going to be very vital in this whole scenario.
What is Gout?
When the uric acid crystals start to build up into the joints the condition rises which is known as gout. Gout is basically an inflammatory arthritis. Now try to understand about the functionality of gout and its impact on your overall health. Do you know what uric acid actually is? Uric acid is found in the blood which is a waste product. Now the question at the moment is how uric acid comes into existence? There are certain substances which are naturally found in the body and foods. Due to The breakdown of these substances uric acid produces. In Normal conditions uric acid then dissolves in the blood and then goes through the kidneys and ultimately excreted as the urine.
In some of the cases the body starts to produce uric acid in an excessive amount or the kidneys fails to excrete as a normal way. When this situation happens the uric acid starts to build up in needle-like crystals in joints or surrounding areas. In this situation the patient starts feeling pain and inflammation. Sometimes swelling can also be observed.
Symptoms of Gout
It is important to understand that gout symptoms are actually different from one person to another. Despite the fact, there are also some common signs that indicate the presence of gout. Let’s have a look
Intense Joint Pain
In most of the cases it is observed that gout affects the larger area of the joint of the big toe. But it can also affect any part of the joint. Some common body parts that can affect are as follows: knees, wrists and fingers, ankle, elbows. Pain starts suddenly and awakens you in the late night. Sometimes the affected areas of the joints become warm and swollen.
Lasting Discomfort
Another important but common symptom in case of gout is the discomfort and pain that lasts for several days or even some weeks. Although severe pain reduces to some extent, still a person feels some pain in the joints that actually lasts for some days.
Inflammation and Redness
In case of Gout an affected person can see redness and swelling in the joints. Besides that, the affected areas feel warm and red in color. There is also the possibility of shiny in that affected area.
Limited Range Of Motion
This situation happens when the gout starts to become complex. In this case the movement of the person becomes Limited that actually disturbs daily routine matters.
Causes of Gout
It is a reality that there are some factors which contribute towards the creation of gout. Here in this part of the article we are going to talk about those factors which are responsible for creating this disease.
1. Dietary Factors
In case of gout uric acid is the major culprit. So when you eat those foods that contain higher amounts of purines the chances of gout increases. So if you are suffering from gout then stop consuming those foods such as red meat, certain types of seafood including sardines, trout, tuna and mussels. Besides that, those drinks which have fructose and alcohol such as purines are also dangerous in case of gout.
2. Medical Conditions
There are certain medical issues which are also responsible in order to increase the risk of gout. Let’s talk about one by one.
Obesity or Overweight
Obesity is one of the major reasons to increase the level of uric acid in the blood.
Metabolic Syndrome
There are some metabolic conditions which are responsible for creating the chances of gout. For example high blood sugar level, high blood pressure and bad cholesterol level can be the reasons for this arthritis.
Kidney Disease
When the kidney fails to perform its function in an efficient way then uric acid starts to store. In this way the chances of gout disease increases to a greater extent.
Other Health Conditions
There are some other fatal diseases that can also contribute towards this arthritis disease named as gout. Some highlighting diseases in this case are as follows: Diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
Genetics
Medical research shows that genetics is also one of the causes of creating gout. It is because genetic factors can influence uric acid and how your body processes it in an efficient way.
3. Medications
It is very important to note that certain medicines are also reasons for increasing the level of uric acid. Some of the medicines in this case are low dose aspirin, anti rejection drugs and diuretics.
4. Age and Sex
The two factors including age and sex are also found to increase the chances to develop gout. Medical study shows that in most of the cases gout attacks men as compared to women when we talk about age and sex factors. The main reason for having involved men as compared to women in case of gout is the lower level of uric acid in women. It is also a reality that the uric acid of women can also increase as men after Menopause. Studies show that gout mostly attacks adults especially between ages 30 and 50. Women only have to worry after menopause because, in this situation, the chances of creating gout increase.
Diagnosing Gout
It is really very important to diagnose gout in its early stage. So in order to find out the uric acid crystal into the joints it becomes really crucial in order to diagnose it in an effective way. There are some methods that are used to diagnose gout. Let’s quickly have a look.
Medical History and Physical Examination
The first step towards diagnosis is to check out the medical history and implement a physical examination of a patient. Professional Healthcare providers ask questions about symptoms and medical and family history related to gout. Besides that, physical examination is also conducted in order to check out the possibility of any joint swelling tenderness and redness.
Blood Tests
Blood tests are taken in order to check out and measure the quantity of uric acid in your blood. The important thing that you have to understand at this time is that increasing uric acid in blood is not the only reason for gout in all cases. Some people having lower levels of uric acid can also experience gout as well.
Joint Fluid Test
Sometimes it becomes important to check out the fluid of affected joints. For this purpose fluid from the affected area is taken from a needle. This fluid then goes under the examination to check out the availability of uric acid crystals.
Imaging Tests
Another option to diagnose gout is to take imaging tests. Imaging tests are important because they provide images of the joints and help to detect any damage in the joints and uric acid crystals deposits.
Cures and Treatments for Gout
Remember gout has no cure yet at the moment. There is no need to panic because gout is pretty much treatable and manageable. Only you need to follow the following steps. Let’s have a look.
Medicines
There are two types of medicines that are used in most of the cases in order to treat gout. Acute gout attacks medicines and prevents medicines. First talk about acute gout attack medications.
Acute Gout Attacks Medications
Some of the important medicines in case of severe gout are as follows: Nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs commonly known as NSAIDs, colchicine and corticosteroids. These medicines are used in different conditions according to the symptoms of the affected person. Only a professional Healthcare provider can actually prescribe some of the above medicines.
Preventive Medicines
It is also important to prevent the excessive production of the uric acid. For this purpose common but important medicines are used including xanthine oxidase inhibitors and uricosurics. These medicines are helpful in order to reduce excess uric acid production. Besides that, it improves the ability of the kidney to remove uric acid in a normal way.
Lifestyle Changes
With the help of lifestyle changes and home remedies you can also get maximum results in order to manage gout effectively. Just follow the simple steps that we are going to talk about. Let’s have a look.
Dietary Changes
If you are affected with this serious but common issue which is known as gout then the first step that you can take in order to manage it is the changes in your diet. Try to reduce or quit eating those foods which have high purines. In this case, fructose-sugared beverages and alcohol are those foods that increase the level of uric acid. So immediately reduce or remove them. Just focus on those fruits and vegetables that have low fats and complex carbohydrates.
Hydration
Keeping your body hydrated is really crucial in order to promote the functions of the kidney. Drink plenty of water because it helps to dilute uric acid.
Weight Management
As we have deeply discussed in this complete article, being overweight is a burden and creates stress on the joints. So try to keep your weight in a normal stage because it helps to lower uric acid level also.
Regular Exercise
Physical activities are really important not only in case of gout but also for your overall health. So take regular exercises in your daily routine.
Rest and Elevation
In case of severe gout attack you should try to take enough rest to the affected joint in order to reduce symptoms.
Natural Remedies
In most of the cases people recover with medical treatment but natural remedies are also helpful in this case. Let’s talk about more.
Cherries and Cherry Juice
As the uric acid has been the focal point in this article. By eating cherries and drinking Cherry juice can help you to reduce your uric acid. It not only reduces your uric acid but also improves and reduces the chances of gout attacks.
Vitamin C
It is found that vitamin C when used as a supplement can also help to reduce uric acid.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Medically it is proved that use of apple cider vinegar can also reduce uric acid due to its acidity because it helps to balance pH level.
Ginger
You can use Ginger both in cooking and in tea. Due to its inflammatory characteristics it is helpful to reduce the level of uric acid which is very important to treat gout effectively.
Prevention of Gout
Nobody can deny the fact that prevention is always better than cure. Don’t wait for something to happen. Try to take preventive measures not only in case of gout but also in any type of disease. Here in the following we are talking about some of the important points that you have to keep in mind for prevention of gout.
Regular Check Ups
While it is important to monitor uric acid level on a regular basis, it is important to go for regular checkups to your doctor in this context.
Healthy Diet
Consume healthy diet and in case of preventing gout avoid taking or consuming foods as we have deeply discussed in this article.
Medical Awareness
It is really crucial to take prescribed medicines according to the plans that your professional Healthcare provider made for you.
Hydration and Stress Management
Keep your body hydrated and reduce stress from your daily routine. Try to drink plenty of water for the better performance of the kidney and implement those practices which are helpful in stress management. For this purpose certain techniques such as deep breathing exercises, yoga and meditation are helpful in this whole picture.
When to Consult A Doctor?
This is an important question at the moment, when there is a need to consult a doctor? There are certain conditions that need an urgent intervention. If an affected person experiences severe pain in the joint suddenly or feels the symptoms of fever along with joint pain, call your doctor urgently. Remember, early diagnosis and effective treatment are the only ways to manage gout, which is a form of arthritis.
Conclusion
In order to sum up this article it’s clear that gout is a dangerous medical condition but it is pretty much manageable. By implementing the right approaches you can beat this medical condition in an effective way. Remember increasing quantity of uric acid is one of the major reasons in case of gout. So there is a need to understand what gout actually is, what are its symptoms, diagnosis and effective treatment options. There are many ways to tackle this disease including medical and non medical. With the help of modifications in your lifestyle and reducing or quitting those foods that are actually purines, you can manage gout to a greater extent. Go for medical checkups on a consistent basis. By implementing these strategies you can live a healthy life full of joy and confidence.