Gout Facts
●
Gout is a rheumatic disease caused by a high level of uric acid in the bloodstream. It causes inflammation usually in
one joint.
· Symptoms and signs of gout include:
ü Deposit of hard nodules of uric
acid under the skin which is called tophi. Its presence indicates that
treatment with medications is necessary.
ü Pain,
redness, and swelling in joints
ü the
hotness in the affected area
●
The most reliable method to diagnose
is to take a sample of fluid removed from an inflamed joint. You’ll see these
distinct uric acid crystals under the microscope.
●
Gout can be acute (short-lasting) or
chronic (long-lasting).
●
Surgery, dehydration, sweetened
beverages, red meat, and seafood triggers acute attacks of gout.
●
Gout that is untreated can cause
irreversible joint damage and kidney problems.
● Most
gout cases can be treated with specific medications.
What is Gout?
Gout
(urate crystal deposition disease) is a form of inflammatory disease triggered
by the accumulation of monosodium crystals in joints. It is a type of arthritis
that develops from high levels of uric acid in the blood. Acid can form
needle-like crystals in the bone that cause irritating reactions, sudden,
severe episodes of pain, tenderness, redness, warmth, and swelling.
Gout
is usually common in men. They have higher uric acid levels than women. It usually occurs to women only
after menopause, possibly due to the drop in estrogen women experience.
What are the Stages of Gout?
An
attack of gout usually comes on suddenly and can last for days. Surprisingly various area of a first gout
attack is in the big toe. Your heel, ankle, elbow, fingers, knee instep, wrist,
and spine can also be affected as well.
The
four stages of gout include:
●
Asymptomatic
hyperuricemia:
In this stage, the patient has high levels of uric acid in the blood,
but no other symptoms.
●
Acute
Gout The type of gout is called a gout attack. It often
affects only one joint. The affected joint is red and swollen which is a
painful condition between 3 to 10 days. This pain will subside even without
medication and return to the same joint or another.
●
Interval
gout: This is the stage that occurs between acute
attacks. No symptoms are present at this
time.
●
Chronic
Gout ( Tophaceous Gout) This type of gout may affect more
than one joint. The patient may experience persistent, repeated episodes of
pain and inflammation.
What causes gout?
Too much uric acid in your body causes gout. The result of the excess uric acid
can increase the likelihood of hyperuricemia.
Age
and gender, genetics
or it can run in the family, lifestyle choices, alcoholism,
lead exposure, certain medications,
weight or obesity, such as diuretics (water pills), chronic decreased
kidney function, and other health problems can trigger the attack.
Symptoms and Signs
of gout
Gout
usually becomes symptomatic suddenly without warning, it often attacks in the
middle of the night. The pain is typically severe, reflecting the severity of
inflammation in the joint, to the point that some excruciating experience of
pain, joint redness, pain, and swelling in the big toe.
The presence of tophi is another way to indicate that the body has been overloaded with
uric acid. When tophi are present, the uric acid level in the bloodstream
typically has been high for years.
In some cases, some people are asymptomatic. It means, they do not experience the
symptoms at all, although they have high
levels of uric acid in their blood. These people do not require treatment.
Others, however, have acute or chronic symptoms requiring treatment.
How is gout diagnosed?
The
symptoms of gout may be nonspecific, and they often mimic other conditions
making it very challenging to diagnose. The
doctor will ask for the patient's health history and thoroughly
review the signs and perform a physical examination, blood tests, ultrasound, or
X-ray or take a sample from your joint to examine or measure the level of uric
acid in your blood.
When to see a
doctor
Anyone
who has severe signs usually seeks medical care because of the intense pain.
Call your doctor to make an accurate diagnosis of gout for optimal treatment.
Treatments
Gout
is a complex disorder that's becoming prevalent. It cannot be cured, but proper medication
and medical management is the most important way to prevent recurrent attacks.
People
who suffer from frequent and painful attacks may also have to take medication
to reduce the risk of complications. It is usually treated with
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like corticosteroids to alleviate the pain, and symptoms, prevent future flares and prevent damage to any joints. The
treatment takes effect, the sooner your pain will go away. However, they must
be used with caution, as they can irritate the digestive system and aggravate
hypertension.
How to Avoid Gout
Besides
taking the proper medicines, following a healthy lifestyle can help to keep,p
gout symptoms under control. These include:
●
Diet. Limit or avoid those foods that
are rich in purines and low in salt. Lose weight, if you’re overweight. Losing
weight may help reduce your risk of future gout attacks.
●
Limit the number of alcoholic
beverages you drink. These beverages, when consumed in excess, raise your risk
of a gout flare-up.
●
Drink lots of water. It is a simple
way to help reduce or flush uric acid from your body.
Gout
is a severe and painful disease that can potentially be debilitating and
life-threatening if untreated.
Fortunately today, a person with gout who is well informed about their
condition is more likely to lead a better quality of life. Staying up to date
and taking decisive actions to manage the effects of their disease will make a
real difference in the lives of people living with gout.
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