Can you enjoy red wine at dinner and have some biltong during the rugby without the fear of gout kicking in?
Often referred to as the “disease of kings”, people have incorrectly linked gout to the kind of overindulgence in food and wine only the rich and powerful could afford. In fact gout can affect anyone, and its risk factors vary. So, if you often wake up in the middle of the night with the sensation that your big toe is on fire, swollen, and so tender that even the weight of the sheet is intolerable; you have gout. Fortunately it is possible to treat gout and reduce its painful attacks by making lifestyle changes and using certain medications.
What is gout?
Gout occurs when urate crystals accumulate in your joint, causing inflammation and intense pain.
Urate crystals form when you have high levels of uric acid in your blood. Normally uric acid dissolves in your blood and passes through your kidneys into your urine. But sometimes your body produces too much uric acid or your kidneys excrete too little uric acid. When this happens, uric acid can build up, forming sharp, needle- like urate crystals in a joint or surrounding tissues that cause pain, inflammation and swelling.
What are the symptoms?
The most common symptom is sudden and severe pain in one or more joints, typically in the big toe.
Symptoms often develop at night and other symptoms include:
• Your joint being very tender, to the point of being unable to bear anything touching it.
• Swelling (inflammation) in and around the joint.
• Red, shiny skin over the affected joint.
• Peeling, itchy and flaky skin over the affected joint as the inflammation subsides.
What are the risk factors?
Factors that increase the uric acid levels in your blood include:
• Diet. Eating a diet rich in meat and seafood and high in beverages sweetened with fruit sugar, promotes higher levels of uric acid, which increases your risk of gout. Alcohol consumption, especially beer, also increases the risk of gout.
• Obesity. When overweight, the body produces more uric acid making it difficult for the kidneys, increasing your risk of gout.
• Medical conditions such as untreated high blood pressure and chronic conditions such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and heart and kidney disease, could cause gout.
• Certain medications. The use of Thiazide diuretics – commonly used to treat hypertension – and low dose aspirin, can also increase uric acid levels.
• Age and sex. Gout is more common in men, primarily because women tend to have lower uric acid levels. After menopause, however, women’s uric acid levels approach those of men. Men usually develop gout between the ages 30 and 50 – whereas women only develop signs and symptoms after menopause.
• Family history of gout. If a family member have had gout, you’re more likely to develop the disease.
How can it be treated?
This complex form of arthritis involves medications which can be used to treat acute attacks and prevent future attacks, as well as reduce your risk of complications from gout. Medication is the most proven, effective way to treat symptoms. However, making certain lifestyle changes will improve the condition tremendously. Make sure to:
• Limit alcoholic drinks and drinks sweetened with fruit sugar.
• Limit foods high in purines such as red meat, seafood and organ meats.
• Control your weight by exercising regularly.
Seek medical care immediately if you experience a sudden and intense pain in a joint. Gout that goes untreated can lead to extreme pain, as well as the erosion or destruction of a joint.
Source: www.rheumatology.org, www.mayoclinic.org, www.health24.com, www.webmd.com, www.nhs.uk
DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional.
