What is Gout?
Gout is a type of arthritis caused by an accumulation of uric acid and crystals in the joints which lead to inflammation causing pain, redness, heat, and swelling.
Uric acid is normally found in the body as a by- product of the way the body breaks down proteins called purines. The cause of an elevated blood uric acid level can be caused by genetics, obesity, certain medications such as diuretics (water pills), and people with chronic decreased kidney function.
The treatment of certain types of cancer can also cause gout because of the high levels of uric acid released when the cancer cells are destroyed.
Osteoarthritis also makes affected joints more likely to be the site of a gouty attack.
Another sign of gout is the presence of tophi, which are a hard nodule of uric acid deposits under the skin. They can be found in various places in the body frequently on the elbows, ears, and on the surface of other joints.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of acute inflammation can come on very suddenly. Around 95% of the sufferers are middle aged men.
The incidence of gout in the UK is rising due to an increasing ageing population and a growing obesity problem.
The most commonly affected joint is the joint of the bog toe but can affect other joints
The symptoms are:
Acute pain in the affected joint with difficulty weight bearing
Redness and warmth of the joint
Swelling of the affected joint
Tophi can sometimes be present
What are the Triggers for Gout?
Dehydration
Recent surgery
Red meat
Beer and other alcohol
Seafood
Dairy
Cancer treatment
Remedies
The best remedy is to limit the amount of food you eat that contain Purine such as
Fish – Mackerel, herring, trout, haddock, anchovies, sardines and shellfish like scallops, prawns and mussels
Also meats such as bacon, turkey, veal, venison, liver, kidney, brain, and sweetbreads.
Also alcoholic drinks like wine and beer
Treatment for Gout
In mild cases the first thing to do is to look at lifestyle and diet and make changes to this. It is also very important to drink a lot of water.
Try to cut down alcohol consumption and try to have 2 alcohol free days a week.
Try and lose weight and avoid too many of the foods listed above
In more severe cases you will need to take prescription drugs that help lower the uric acid levels to try and get them below 6mg/dl plus a general anti-inflammatory to help with the pain of the current attack and prevent potential flare ups until the levels of uric acid are controlled.
Consult your GP if you have very sudden severe pain in any joint – usually the big toe, fingers, wrists, elbows or knees as it may be Gout. It is worth treating this as soon as possible although Gout does not cause lasting damage to the joints.
Call the doctor urgently if the pain becomes severe and you have a high temperature as well as there may be another more serious cause such as an infection.