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GoutGout is possibly one of the most common forms of arthritis or joint inflammation. It appears as an acute attack often with symptoms coming on overnight. Within 12-24 hours there is found severe pain and swelling in the affected joint or joints. The skin over the joint may be red and shiny. You may also notice a bit heat emanating from the joint. It is usually found that gout usually affects only one or two joints at a time - most often around the feet and ankles. The ball of the big toe is the most common site of attacks. Without treatment the attack will usually subside in a week or so. When a patient first develops gout there may be intervals of many months or even a few years between attacks. But, as time goes by, these attacks tend to become more frequent and more severe and eventually many joints may become involved, sometimes all of them at the same time. At this stage a state of chronic or continuous joint disease may develop with progressive joint damage, disability and crippling (chronic gout). Gout affects mostly men and is very rare in women until after the menopause when it is quite often seen. Gout is very commonly found around the world. Some surveys have shown it to be present in up to 10% of adult males. It is often said that dry, warm climates are the best to avoid outbreaks. What causes Gout?Uric acid. It is a chemical which is a natural part of the normal breaking down and building up of food and tissues of the body. The level in the blood can be measured and shows how much there is in the body overall. The condition of raised blood uric acid is called hyperuricaemia. When this is present, the uric acid which is normally dissolved in the blood may, from time to time, form microscopic crystals in the joint. These crystals set up the inflammation which is called acute gouty arthritis or acute gout. It follows that gout may develop in persons whose uric acid is higher than normal. There are many causes of this. The following are some of the more common causes:
Treating the Acute AttackOne or other of the anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be very effective but to gain the best results the dose should be adequate and the drug taken as soon as possible at the first sign of an attack. Hence medical advice must be sought early. With effective treatment the attack may be controlled within 12-24 hours and treatment need not be continued after a few days. Rest and elevation of the part involved and a fluid intake increased by an extra 4 or 5 glasses of water a day are also important. Drugs used for the acute attack have no effect on reducing uric acid levels. Treatment of GoutThe first step wherever possible must be to correct those factors mentioned above which give rise to high uric acid levels. Purines are substances found in food, which, when broken down produce a lot of uric acid. Therefore the following foods which are high in Purines should be restricted or avoided: |
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Offal foods such as liver, kidneys, tripe, sweetbreads and tongue. Excessive amounts of red meat. Shellfish, fish roe and scallops. Peas. lentils and beans. Alcohol intake should be reduced. Two glasses of beer a day or less is sensible. On special occasions you can drink more. Weight loss may be very important. Medication for high blood pressure may need to be altered. How to Lower Uric Acid (Hyperuricaemia)
If in spite of all the measures above the uric acid remains high and attacks continue or become more frequent, other drugs can be used which directly lower the blood uric acid. However, it must be understood that these drugs have no effect on the actual attacks of acute gout and they must be taken on a continuous and long term basis. The dose must be adjusted by repeated checks on the blood uric acid before a permanent maintenance dose can be decided on. Once the uric acid is down within normal limits, the patient should remain free from gout provided the drug is continued. Some drugs work by increasing elimination via the kidneys and others by blocking uric acid formation.
It is also very important for patients beginning such drugs to realize that for the first few months of treatment, gouty attacks can become more severe and frequent. This is usually controlled by taking one or two tablets a day of an additional drug for at least several months and if any acute attacks do appear they must be treated in the usual way and the long term medicines continued.
Unproven Remedies
The promises of quick "cures" and "miraculous relief' sound wonderful to a person with a chronic illness. Most of the products advertised in this way whether drugs, dietary supplements or mechanical devices are not harmful but worthless and expensive. To avoid falling into these traps people should discuss with their doctor any other forms of treatment they are considering.
Gout hurts so much that you will need your doctor's help to get rid of it. The most usual place to get gout is in your big toe and that's not funny even if your friends do laugh! Pain in other joints especially in your feet and ankles can be caused by gout too.
Gout is very common in Maori and Pacific Islanders and men seem to get it more than women. Some of your families may also have pain caused by gout and it is possible that your parents or grandparents had it too. You can't change these things just as you can't cure gout but you can avoid having more bad attacks of this very painful condition.
Complications of Gout
Where high uric acid has been present for a long time and acute gout has been frequent and severe, deposits of uric acid salts may appear around the affected joint and even in tissues elsewhere such as the ears. These are seen as chalk coloured nodules called tophi. Their presence indicates the need for treatment with one or other of the long term uric acid lowering drugs mentioned above.
High uric acid levels and recurrent gout are often associated with high blood pressure which your doctor will check and treat as necessary. This combination of hyperuricaemia and high blood pressure can lead to kidney damage so it is all the more important, not just because of the effects on the joints, to correct this state of affairs through the proper use of all the measures mentioned above under your doctor's supervision.
You Can Help Rid Yourself of the Pain
Here are a few tips to help you:
Your doctor will give you pills to take. Take them every day. If you think the pills make you feel worse talk to the doctor about changing the tablets but DON'T STOP TAKING THEM. Try to keep your weight down. Ask your doctor or health worker to give you good advice about diets that will help you do this. Some foods will make your Gout much more painful. Try to cut down or avoid: Red meats which come from cows or sheep and include steak, chops, corned beef and larger pieces of meat usually roasted in the oven. Brains, kidneys, liver & heart (offal). Shellfish such as pauas, pipis, mussels, oysters and sea eggs. Peas and beans. Alcohol. especially beer and wine. About-Gout.net
The pain caused by Gout will go away. If you are careful you can avoid having more bad attacks of Gout.