Some people may suffer from severe bouts of pain, especially in the big toe, as it is hot, swollen, and sensitive. These problems may indicate a serious attack of gout, which is a type of arthritis that results from the deposition of uric acid in the joints of the body. Men are more susceptible More women suffer from gout, while women are more susceptible to it after menopause.
Gout symptoms
Gout symptoms appear in the form of acute attacks, usually during the night, and may include the following:
Severe pain in the joints
The effect of gout appears largely on the large joint in the hallux, but it may also affect other joints of the body, such as those in the palm of the foot, ankles, knees, hands and pelvis. The acute pain attack lasts between five and ten days, and may return. To appear again if the condition is not treated.
Inflammation and redness
The affected joint or group of joints swells, becoming red and highly sensitive to any object it may be exposed to.
Causes and risk factors of gout
Gout occurs due to the accumulation of uric acid crystals around the joint, causing inflammation and severe pain in the area, due to the high concentration of uric acid in the blood.
The body produces uric acid as part of the process of breaking down purines, which is an amino acid that is found naturally in the body and certain types of foods, such as: meat, asparagus and mushrooms.
Uric acid is excreted from the body through the kidneys, and in some cases in which the body produces large amounts of uric acid, or in those in which the kidneys excrete small amounts of it, uric acid accumulates in the form of sharp, needle-like crystals inside the joint, or the tissues surrounding it, causing... Suffering from gout.
Factors that increase the risk of gout
There are many factors that may cause an increase in the level of uric acid in the body, such as the following:
Lifestyle: Eating excessive amounts of meat and alcoholic beverages leads to the accumulation of uric acid in the body.
Medical problems: Many medical problems increase the likelihood of developing gout, such as:
High blood pressure.
Diabetes
Hypercholesterolemia
Arteriosclerosis
Taking some medications: Taking some types of medications causes an increase in uric acid levels in the blood, such as:
Thiazide
Aspirin.
Anti-rejection medications.
Family history: This is if there is a family history of gout.
Age and gender: Gout is more common among men, especially in the early stages of life, while gout symptoms and signs appear in women after menopause.
Complications of gout
There are many serious complications that may result from gout, such as the following:
Repeated gout attacks.
The severity of symptoms worsens over time.
Kidney stones.
Diagnosis of gout
There are some tests that help diagnose gout, such as the following:
Examination of the synovial fluid in the joints.
Blood test
Gout treatment
There are some medications that are used to treat gout, and the doctor determines the appropriate treatment based on the patient’s condition. Among these medications, we mention the following:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Colchicine
Steroids
Gout prevention
There are some things that can be followed to reduce the risk of gout, such as the following:
Take some medications
For people who have gout attacks annually, or for people whose gout attack symptoms worsen, the doctor may recommend medications that reduce the risk of additional attacks. This preventive treatment is started after the gout attack has subsided.
This type of treatment aims to prevent the production of uric acid in the body, or improve the process of excretion of uric acid from the body.
Follow a special diet
In fact, it has not been proven that making specific changes in the diet may reduce the risk of developing gout, but it is logical that eating foods that contain the least possible amount of purine contributes to preventing the condition from worsening. Therefore, it is preferable to follow the following:
Reduce your intake of red meat and seafood.
Abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages.
Eat plenty of low-fat milk products.
Eat more complex carbohydrates, such as whole grain bread.
It is worth noting that food quantities must be consumed to ensure maintaining a healthy weight, as rapid weight loss causes a sudden rise in uric acid levels.
Alternative treatments
There are many complementary and alternative treatments that are used in some cases in which the treatment does not achieve the desired results, but a doctor must be consulted before using them to find out whether it interacts negatively with the medications used. Among these complementary treatments we mention the following:
Coffee
Drinking coffee, whether regular or decaffeinated, leads to a decrease in uric acid levels in the blood, although scientists do not yet know the reason for this.
vitamin C
Some food additives, or some foods containing vitamin C, may reduce the concentration of uric acid in the blood. However, so far there is not enough research to indicate the effectiveness of its use as a treatment for gout, and consuming large quantities of it may cause an increase in the concentration of uric acid in the blood.
Cherry
Cherries and other dark fruits, such as: blackberries, blueberries, and purple grapes, may reduce uric acid levels in the blood, but it is best to consult a doctor before eating them.
