If you have heard an older relative talk about aches and pains, they may have referred to suffering from "the gout". While it's not known why previous generations put "the" in front of the name of this painful affliction, what is known is that gout is a real disorder with very real symptoms...and realistic ways to deal with it.
Gout, known by the medical term hyperuricemia, is a painful condition caused by high levels of uric acid in the bloodstream. The extra uric acid forms crystals, which lead to joint inflammation, swelling and pain. The good news is that gout symptoms can be alleviated with a change in diet. Before we look at how to help control this affliction, let's look at the typical symptoms of an attack.
When Gout Attacks: Symptoms
Gout attacks are most often reported in the big toe, but the acute pain and burning can occur in almost any joint in the body, including the ankle, wrist, finger, elbow or knee. Flare-ups usually happen suddenly, and mostly at night.
When an attack happens, the affected area will become swollen, hot and take on a red coloration. The redness is a match for the fire-like pain associated with an attack, and the affected joint becomes very tender.
How Can I Manage The Pain Of A Gout Attack?
Most health care professionals will recommend common painkillers, especially those with anti-inflammatories in them such as Aleve and Advil. More severe cases may result in a prescription for certain steroids like Prednisone to help reduce swelling during an attack, and therefore relieve some of the pain.
Who Can Suffer From Gout?
Men have a better chance of suffering from gout than women, especially men in their forties. However, women have a greater chance of an attack after menopause, and there is a genetic component to your likelihood of suffering an attack; if your parents or grandparents experienced gout, your chances of following in their painful footsteps is increased.
There are also other conditions that increase your risk; high blood pressure or cholesterol, diabetes and kidney disorders all raise your chances of having an attack.
If you think you have had a flare-up, your first step is to see your doctor; he can tell you whether you are actually dealing with gout. Also, he may think medication is needed to reduce the levels of uric acid in your bloodstream. However, while diet doesn't cause the condition, it is an effective method of potentially reducing the number of attacks you suffer.
Gout Diet Choices
Foods and beverages high in purine can lead to a larger number of frequent gout attacks, and should be eliminated from your diet as much as possible as a preventative measure. The most important thing to do is to make sure to drink plenty of fluids, as water helps eliminate uric acid in the bloodstream. High purine foods include items from every food group, including (but not limited to) things like beef, pork, lamb, anchovies, mushrooms, oatmeal and beer.
Low purine foods include choices like fruits, chocolate, tomatoes, carbonated drinks and coffee. While a low-purine diet won't eliminate gout, it will help lower the risk of future attacks.
Gout, known by the medical term hyperuricemia, is a painful condition caused by high levels of uric acid in the bloodstream. The extra uric acid forms crystals, which lead to joint inflammation, swelling and pain. The good news is that gout symptoms can be alleviated with a change in diet. Before we look at how to help control this affliction, let's look at the typical symptoms of an attack.
When Gout Attacks: Symptoms
Gout attacks are most often reported in the big toe, but the acute pain and burning can occur in almost any joint in the body, including the ankle, wrist, finger, elbow or knee. Flare-ups usually happen suddenly, and mostly at night.
When an attack happens, the affected area will become swollen, hot and take on a red coloration. The redness is a match for the fire-like pain associated with an attack, and the affected joint becomes very tender.
How Can I Manage The Pain Of A Gout Attack?
Most health care professionals will recommend common painkillers, especially those with anti-inflammatories in them such as Aleve and Advil. More severe cases may result in a prescription for certain steroids like Prednisone to help reduce swelling during an attack, and therefore relieve some of the pain.
Who Can Suffer From Gout?
Men have a better chance of suffering from gout than women, especially men in their forties. However, women have a greater chance of an attack after menopause, and there is a genetic component to your likelihood of suffering an attack; if your parents or grandparents experienced gout, your chances of following in their painful footsteps is increased.
There are also other conditions that increase your risk; high blood pressure or cholesterol, diabetes and kidney disorders all raise your chances of having an attack.
If you think you have had a flare-up, your first step is to see your doctor; he can tell you whether you are actually dealing with gout. Also, he may think medication is needed to reduce the levels of uric acid in your bloodstream. However, while diet doesn't cause the condition, it is an effective method of potentially reducing the number of attacks you suffer.
Gout Diet Choices
Foods and beverages high in purine can lead to a larger number of frequent gout attacks, and should be eliminated from your diet as much as possible as a preventative measure. The most important thing to do is to make sure to drink plenty of fluids, as water helps eliminate uric acid in the bloodstream. High purine foods include items from every food group, including (but not limited to) things like beef, pork, lamb, anchovies, mushrooms, oatmeal and beer.
Low purine foods include choices like fruits, chocolate, tomatoes, carbonated drinks and coffee. While a low-purine diet won't eliminate gout, it will help lower the risk of future attacks.
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