by Shaheen Darr

Created on: October 15, 2008   Last Updated: January 17, 2011

Gout is a painful condition affecting the joints in the body. It primarily affects men over the age of 40 though menopausal women can also be affected by it.

The main reason for gout is that the body produces more uric acid than the kidneys can dispose off and the result is deposits of uric acid crystals in various joints in the body. It is usually a swelling of the big toe that alerts to the problem though various other places in the body like the knee, foot, wrist or the elbow joint can be affected. The affected joint is usually, painful inflamed, shiny and red in appearance and hot to the touch.

There are various reasons why gout is caused in the body. A genetic malfunction in the body could lead to an over production of uric acid (urate) than normal or the reason could be kidney problems that affect their normal excretory function. It could also be due to a diet rich in red meat, brains, liver, lentils and shellfish which produce a substance called purine that produces uric acid when broken down. Another reason could be obesity in a person that leads to higher levels of uric acid than normal in the body. Sometimes conditions like diabetes, hypertension or even psoriasis can also lead to gout.

Gout manifests itself in several attacks which could last from 3 to 10 days in duration. Some people get frequent attacks whereas others might just one attack in their lifetime. If the problem remains untreated the pain in the affected joint can get worse with each new attack lasting for longer periods and occurring more frequently.

In order to confirm that the joint pain is indeed gout, a blood test has to be done so that the levels of uric acid in the body are checked. This is normally done several weeks after a gout attack occurs. Further tests like x-rays and fluid from the painful joint can also be removed to correctly diagnose the presence of gout in the body.

If gout has been diagnosed it is recommended to rest the affected joint and take plenty of fluids to reduce the amount of uric acid present in the body. Ordinary pain killers can be taken to relieve the pain or the doctor might prescribe anti inflammatory medicines. For severe cases of gout the doctor might recommend a treatment of steroids.

The main things to remember for all gout sufferers is to reduce the intake of foods that cause purine, to reduce alcohol intake, have plenty of fluids, reduce stress and a tip that seems to work for some gout sufferers, have half a pound of cherries daily. They seem to relieve the symptoms of gout without the use of any prescribed medicines!

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