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Gout: Frequently Asked Questions

What is gout?

Simply put, gout is the formation of uric acid crystals in the joints caused by the body's inability to cleanse itself of uric acid. This retained acid then hardens in the joints, causing very severe pain and swelling. According to some patients, the pain is like having shards of glass embedded in the joint of your big toe.
Gout is one of the most painful rheumatic diseases. It occurs when needle-like crystals of uric acid build up in connective tissue, in the joint space between two bones, or in both. Adult men, particularly those between the ages of 40 and 50, are more likely than women to develop gout. Women rarely develop the disease while still menstruating. Sometime during the course of the disease, gout will affect the big toe in about 75 percent of patients. ...
Gout is a common joint disease. It is an arthritic attack that usually affects a single joint, making it red, swollen, tender, and painful. Most gout patients are male.
Gout is a kind of arthritis . It can cause an attack of sudden burning pain, stiffness, and swelling in a joint, usually a big toe. These attacks can happen over and over unless gout is treated. Over time, they can harm your joints, tendons, and other tissues. Gout is most common in men.

Is Gout curable?

It cannot be completely cured. But it can be prevented by administering medication which can prevent

How serious is gout?

Gout is one of the most painful types of arthritis. It is often compared by gout sufferers to the pain level equivalent to childbirth or the fracture of long bones, such as the femur. If left untreated, gout can lead to joint damage and destruction of tissue, and to progressive crippling. Other disorders associated with gout include: Impaired kidney function and kidney stones Obesity Diabetes Heart disease

Where does gout strike?

Gout is most often felt in the large joint of the big toe, but it can affect other joints such as the instep, ankle, heel, knee, wrist, finger and elbow. The initial attack generally strikes suddenly and begins at night with the affected joint becoming red and swollen. Ninety percent of patients will suffer a gout attack in their big toe at some time during the course of their disease.

Who is likely to develop gout?

Gout generally affects men over the age of 40. Women typically do not suffer from gout until after menopause. Gout is often hereditary and when it develops in men before the age of 30, it can be especially severe.
Gout occurs in approximately 275 out of every 100,000 people. Men are more likely to develop gout than women, and men aged 40 to 50 are most commonly affected. Women rarely develop gout before menopause. The disease affects men and women differently: Men tend to develop gout at an earlier age than women, and alcohol is more often associated with the development of the disease in men. Gout is rare in children and young adults. ...

How is gout diagnosed?

physician will do a physical exam and may take a test to measure the blood's uric acid level. However, to confirm a diagnosis of gout, a physician will need to obtain and analyze fluid from the inflamed joint. In most cases, if a patient has gout, monosodium urate crystals will be present in the fluid. The absence of crystals does not completely rule out a diagnosis of gout, because sometimes the crystals are too small to detect.
Gout may be difficult for doctors to diagnose because the symptoms may be vague and often mimic other conditions. Although most people with gout have hyperuricemia at some time during the course of their disease, it may not be present during an acute attack. In addition, hyperuricemia alone does not mean that a person has gout. In fact, most people with hyperuricemia do not develop the disease. ...
To confirm a diagnosis of gout, the doctor inserts a needle into the inflamed joint and draws a sample of synovial fluid, the substance that lubricates a joint. A laboratory technician places some of the fluid on a slide and looks for uric acid crystals under a microscope. If uric acid crystals are found in the fluid surrounding the joint, the person usually has gout.

How is gout treated?

The goals of treatment are to ease the pain associated with acute attacks, prevent future attacks and avoid the formation of tophi and kidney stones. The treatment of gout can be approached two ways - management of pain and lifestyle adjustments: Management of Pain - Medications are used to treat the pain of acute attacks of gout and to lower uric acid levels. Lifestyle Adjustments - Maintain a healthy, balanced diet and healthy body weight. Regular exercise is important, too. ...
Acute attacks of gout are generally treated with colchicine and NSAIDs. Colchicine is most effective when used within 48 hours of an attack. Indomethacin and naproxen are NSAIDs commonly given. For patients who are unable to take NSAIDs (stomach ulcer, kidney disease, taking blood thinners), corticosteroids are an option. Resting the affected joint and applying cold compresses to the area also may help alleviate pain. ...

What causes gout?

Gout is a very painful inflammation that can occur to any joint in the body. The joint most often affected is the great toe joint. Gout is an accumulation of uric acid that occurs in the joint and turns from a liquid to a solid resulting in the deposits of small crystals. A gout condition can be so painful at times that even the weight of the bed sheets can cause extreme pain on the affected joint. Gout can be brought on by several different conditions. ...
An ancient disease, gout is presented as a severely painful condition provoked by trophic (uric acid) deposits around a joint. Gout may primarily be caused by overproduction of uric acid, or secondarily as a result of some other disease process or condition (such as renal insufficiency, alcoholism, or certain types of anemia). Typically, cases have acute onset, often at night, with severe pain and swelling. These features make gout hard to distinguish clinically between osteomyelitis or thrombophlebitis. ...
Researchers have discovered several key risk factors for developing gout. In addition to inherited traits, diet, weight, and alcohol play a role in the development of gout. Up to 8 percent of people with gout have a family history of the disease. Most people with gout have too much uric acid in their blood, a condition called hyperuricemia. Uric acid is a substance that results from the breakdown of purines, which are part of all human tissue and are found in many foods. ...

Who can get gout?

If you eat a lot of foods that are rich in purines, you may get gout. Some of these foods are salmon, sardines, liver and herring. You may get gout if you’re overweight, drink alcohol or have high cholesterol. Men have gout more often than women do. Women are more likely to have gout after menopause. Some medicines may cause gout, such as certain diuretics (water pills), niacin (a B-complex vitamin), aspirin (taken in low doses), and some drugs used to treat cancer.

How frequent are gout attacks?

Gout attacks can recur from time to time in the same joint. The initial attack may last several days to two weeks unless treated. Over time, gout attacks may occur more often, involve more joints, have more severe symptoms and last longer.

Who is affected by gout?

Gout affects millions of people, mostly men over the age of 30, people who are overweight and people who frequently drink alcohol. When gout affects women, it is usually after menopause.

Who suffers from gout?

Typically, men are the usual sufferers of gout, though it is becoming increasingly common among post-menopausal women.

What relief is available for gout?

Regular anti-inflammatory drugs and some muscle relaxants can provide temporary relief from the pain of gout, but they will not alleviate the cause. Your doctor may prescribe steroids to fight the causes, but these steroids also come with some serious side effects. Luckily, there is a natural, herbal remedy as well. Bissy nut (cola acuminate) has been known to help relieve inflammation in arthritis and gout and is a natural diuretic, stimulating the body in processing the uric acid out of the system.

Who is at risk for gout?

Men age 40-50 seem to be most susceptible to gout , as well as post-menopausal women. Other factors that increase chances of gout are excess consumption of alcohol, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and arteriosclerosis. Some medications such as thiazide diuretics and even low-dose aspirin can increase uric acid levels.

What are the symptoms of gout?

Gout usually occurs suddenly, often in the middle of the night. It is marked by intense joint pain, typically in the big toe, but can also occur in the feet, ankles, knees, hands and wrists. The infected joints appear swollen, red and are very tender to the touch. The pain can last anywhere from 5-10 days, then subsides, gradually becoming pain free in about two weeks.

What causes Gout to develope?

Gout (metabolic arthritis) is a disease created by a buildup of uric acid. In this condition, crystals of monosodium urate or uric acid are deposited on the articular cartilage of joints, tendons and surrounding tissues. These crystals cause inflammation and pain, both severe. *If unchecked, the crystals form tophi, which can cause significant tissue damage. Gout results from a combination of elevated concentrations of uric acid and and overall acidity in the bloodstream. ...

How does diabetes impact gout?

Preliminary research suggests that insulin resistance may play a role in the development of gout. Gout is strongly associated with the consequences of insulin resistance that result in diabetes .

How can you prevent gout attacks?

If you are at risk for developing gout, start by asking your physician to monitor your uric acid level. They can order a simple blood test to do so. Consider a diet low in purine-rich foods . Drink plenty of water and avoid or limit alcohol. Review all prescription and nonprescription medications with your physician to see if any of your medications that may increase your risk for hyperuricemia can be adjusted. Always check with your physician to determine the best treatment option.

What medications are available to treat gout?

Medications that treat acute attacks are aimed at reducing pain and swelling, and may include: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Colchicine, Oral Glucocorticosteriods and Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH). Medications to lower uric acid levels and prevent future attacks may include: Probenecid and Allopurinol. It is important not to start or stop use of these medications during an attack . Always check with your physician to determine the best treatment option. ...

Is gout a common condition?

out has the distinction of being one of the most frequently recorded medical illnesses throughout history , as far back as 5 B.C. More than two million people in the United States live with the condition today. Gout also is the most common form of arthritis in men over 40.

Is Vital Essential effective for Gout?

• Yes, because it can smoother the circulation of blood networks, remove swell and bruises. It can effectively ease the pain from Gout. Western medicines are necessary in the beginning of the treatment. When the symptoms diminish, western medicines can slowly be decreased.
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